Fluoride use in periodontal therapy: a review of the literature.

Although the relationship between fluoride and dental caries has been widely studied and definitively determined, the relationship between fluoride and periodontal health and disease is not clear. Conflicting studies in the literature either suggest routine fluoride usage as an adjunct to conventional periodontal therapy or argue against topical fluoride use on periodontally involved teeth. This review summarizes the literature that addresses the utility of fluoride in patients with periodontal disease and aims to advance a rational criterion for the use of fluorides in the management of periodontal diseases.