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Periodontics · single question

A female patient presents with periodontal probing depths of 5 mm and 6 mm at a few isolated sites, with no other symptoms. What is the best initial treatment step?

  1. Scaling and root planing (SRP) with adjunctive systemic antibiotics immediately
  2. Refer directly for periodontal surgery
  3. Scaling and root planing (SRP) alone as the initial conservative therapy, reassessing afterward before considering further intervention
  4. No treatment needed since there are no symptoms
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Correct answer: C. Scaling and root planing (SRP) alone as the initial conservative therapy, reassessing afterward before considering further intervention

For moderate probing depths (5-6 mm) without other complicating findings (e.g., furcation involvement, severe attachment loss, systemic risk factors warranting adjunctive antibiotics), the standard initial approach is conservative non-surgical therapy — scaling and root planing — followed by reassessment, before considering antibiotics or surgical intervention for sites that don't respond adequately.

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