Course Description

Fundamentals of Periodontal Disease in General Dental Practice

Course Overview

This course is designed for dental hygienists, therapists, and PLVE dentists who wish to expand their understanding of periodontology and enhance their clinical skills. The program will cover fundamental concepts, including periodontal assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning. A hands-on component will provide participants with practical experience in probing techniques, ultrasonic scaling, and effective patient communication strategies.

🗓️ Course Date: 19th & 20th September 2025

Course Timetable

Total Duration: 14 Hours CPD (2 Days)

Day 1 – Theory & Practical Training (7 Hours)

·         Morning Session – Theoretical Lecture (3 Hours)

• Diagnosis: History-taking, periodontal screening, and adherence to recent guidelines.
• Periodontal assessment and essential record-keeping.
• Understanding peri-implant diseases and their implications.
• The link between periodontitis and systemic diseases.
• Principles of periodontal treatment planning.
• Referral criteria: When to refer patients to a specialist.
• The role of the hygienist in periodontal management.
• Case discussions to reinforce theoretical learning.

·         Afternoon Session – Practical Training (3 Hours)

• Correct probing techniques: Understanding angulation and force calibration.
• Completing  6-pocket periodontal charting on an educational model and peer-to-peer practice in the surgery
• Delivering effective oral hygiene instructions (OHI) and patient communication strategies.
• Discussing treatment options and periodontal disease processes.

Day 2 – Advanced Practical Training (7 Hours)

·         Morning Session – Hands-on Training (3 Hours)

• Instrumentation techniques using the Piezo Scaler.
• Developing control and precision with ultrasonic scaling.

·         Afternoon Session – Hands-on Training (3 Hours)

• Mastering hand scaler techniques.
• Practical exercises: Scaling on quail eggs to refine tactile sensitivity.
• Application of learned techniques on Phantom-head models.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, participants will:

• Effectively educate patients on oral hygiene and periodontal disease prevention.
• Accurately diagnose periodontal disease using clinical examination techniques, including probing depths, bleeding on probing, and bone loss assessment.
• Understand appropriate referral pathways for complex periodontal cases.
• Gain confidence in using ultrasonic and hand-scaling techniques.
• Develop proper control over the pressure and angulation required for effective scaling.

Course Requirements

• Eligibility: Open to registered dental hygienists, therapists, and PLVE dentists with active General Dental Council (GDC) registration.
• Practical Participation: Participants must be prepared to engage in hands-on training using Phantom-head models and act as both clinicians and patients under expert supervision.

CPD Accreditation, Certification & Logbook

• CPD Hours: 14 hours of verifiable CPD.
• Certificate of Attendance: Awarded upon successful course completion.

Course Fee

• Total Fee: £575