UK implementation of the new classification of Periodontal Diseases

A note from Honorary Secretary, Professor Nicola West... I would like to keep you appraised of developments regarding the UK implementation of the new classification of Periodontal Diseases. The new classification was agreed at the joint meeting of the American Association of Periodontology and European Federation of Periodontology at the World Workshop in Periodontology, held in Chicago during November 2017. The proceedings were published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology in early 2018. On your behalf, the BSP has tirelessly looked at the process of implementation of the new classification for the UK. The first stage of this process is a paper to be published in the British Dental Journal that describes the salient points of the new classification, rationalises the differences between the 2017 and 1999 versions and provides BSP management guidelines. This will be published on the 11th January 2019 and it will be available online from December 2018, although the exact date for this release has not been finalised yet. The January issue of the BDJ will carry the implementation guidelines of the classification paper itself together with an illustrative case study. A further five case studies will feature in the subsequent series. There are also plans to release a decision-making flowchart (algorithm) that will be widely circulated to the membership to help practitioners to adapt to the new classification. This is currently being finalised but promises to guide practitioners and Periodontists through the decision-making process to arrive at the correct diagnosis for their patients.