The mandibular molar class III furcation invasion: a review of treatment options and a case report of tunneling.

Background: The predictable management of a mandibular molar that has lost all of its interradicular periodontal support-in other words, that has experienced a Class III furcation invasion, or FI-often is a frustrating and disappointing process for both clinician and patient. The strategic value of retaining such a periodontally involved tooth must be determined by both the patient and dentist before a treatment option is selected. In this article, the authors present and describe various therapeutic plans available for Class III FIs in mandibular molars, discussing the advantages and disadvantages of each approach.

Soft and hard tissue resection in periodontal therapy.

The stabilization of inflammatory periodontal diseases (gingivitis and periodontitis) and result periodontal maintenance is achieved most effectively by first establishing health within the dento-gingival complex (connective tissue, junctional epithelium, and sulcus). Two forms of surgical periodontal therapy commonly employed to reach this endpoint are resective in nature:, the gingivectomy/gingivoplasty technique for soft tissue resection and the ostectomy (osteoectomy)/ osteoplasty approach for hard tissue resection. These two forms of therapy are presented here from a historical perspective through to today's accepted methodology.