Periodontics in general practice: perspectives on periodontal diagnosis.

Standardized terminology does not exist to differentiate the conditions that constitute "response diagnosis" and "disease diagnosis" described in this review. Therefore, appropriate descriptive terminology is proposed for these two periodontic diagnoses. Diagnostic terms are needed to discern stages of disease. Periodontitis is a chronic disease prone to episodic recurrence that needs a "dynamic diagnosis" that can change with each reevaluation. In addition, the legal ramifications of failing to recognize or adequately described disease recurrence are discussed.