Perio Review / SPC Notes Template for UK Hygienists

SPC is what makes Step 1-3 stick — without ongoing maintenance, treated periodontitis recurs. Below is a template for UK hygienists and dentists to paste into their PMS for each SPC visit.

Why this perio review / supportive periodontal care (SPC) template wins

• BPE compared to previous explicitly — defines trend (improving / stable / deteriorating).
• Specific pocket depth comparison to previous — quantifies response to treatment.
• Risk factor reinforcement built in — smoking and diabetes are the modifiable factors that drive long-term outcome.
• Recall interval rationale tied to disease severity AND modifiable risk factor status — BSP Step 4 aligned.
• PMPR clearly distinguished (supra vs sub) — defends against "you didn't do enough" or "you over-treated".

The template (paste into your PMS notes field)

Paste the perio review / supportive periodontal care (SPC) template below into your PMS notes field. Patient demographics are left out because your PMS already holds them.

STEP: 4 (Supportive Periodontal Care)
INTERVAL SINCE LAST VISIT: [Weeks / months]
DIAGNOSIS: [Stage __ Grade __ — treated / maintained]

MHx UPDATE: [Reviewed — changes / unchanged]
Smoking status: [Update — quit / reduced / unchanged]
Diabetes control: [HbA1c if known]

OH COMPLIANCE / PATIENT REPORT: [Brushing technique / interdental use / patient-reported issues]

PERIODONTAL STATUS REVIEW:
- BPE: [All sextants today]
  UR _   UA _   UL _
  LR _   LA _   LL _
- Plaque score: [%]
- BoP score: [%]
- Compared to previous: [Improved / stable / deteriorated]

FULL CHART (affected sextants — those with previous BPE ≥3 or known disease):
- Pocket depths re-measured
- BoP marked
- Furcation re-assessed
- Recession re-measured
- Mobility re-graded

RESPONSE TO TREATMENT:
- Pockets resolved (<4mm): [Count or list]
- Pockets persistent: [Sites and depths]
- New deterioration: [Y/N — sites]

PMPR THIS VISIT:
- Supragingival: [All teeth]
- Subgingival: [Sites requiring instrumentation — pockets ≥4mm with BoP]
- Instruments: [Ultrasonic / hand]
- Adjuncts: [None / local antimicrobial — justified]

OH REINFORCEMENT: [Specific issues addressed / aids reinforced]

RISK FACTOR REVIEW:
- Smoking cessation support: [Reinforced / referred]
- Diabetes liaison: [Reinforced / GP letter]
- Other: [Stress, diet]

RECALL INTERVAL (BSP Step 4):
- Stable on SPC: [3-6 months typical]
- Persistent disease: [More frequent / consider Step 3 referral]
- High-risk (smoker, diabetic, severe initial disease): [3 months minimum]
- Rationale: [Documented per stability]

Try the perio review / supportive periodontal care (SPC) note in the live demo → No account needed.

What good looks like — a worked example

The same perio review / supportive periodontal care (SPC) template, completed for a realistic case.

STEP: 4 (SPC)
INTERVAL SINCE LAST VISIT: 3 months
DIAGNOSIS: Stage III Grade B (now controlled) — on SPC since completing Step 2 NSPT 9 months ago

MHx UPDATE: Reviewed. Unchanged.
Smoking status: Reduced from 8/day to 4/day. Working with Stop Smoking Service. Encouraged continuation.
Diabetes control: HbA1c 6.3% (improved from 6.5%) — patient pleased.

OH COMPLIANCE: Brushing 2x daily, modified Bass. Using TePe interdentals daily at LL. Patient reports occasional bleeding LL6 area only.

PERIODONTAL STATUS REVIEW:
- BPE today:
  UR 2   UA 1   UL 2
  LR 2   LA 1   LL 3 (slight residual issue LL6 distal)
- Plaque score: 25% (much improved from initial 65%)
- BoP score: 18% (significant improvement from initial 50%)
- Compared to previous: Stable. LL3 same as last visit.

FULL CHART (LL sextant — previous BPE 4):
- LL6 mesial: 3mm (resolved from 5mm)
- LL6 distal: 5mm (was 7mm — improved but persistent)
- LL6 furcation: Grade 1 (improved from Grade 2)
- LL7 mesial: 4mm (was 5mm — improved)
- LL7 distal: 3mm (was 4mm — resolved)
- LL5 distal: 3mm (was 5mm — resolved)
- BoP only at LL6 distal
- Mobility: LL6 now Grade 0 (improved)

RESPONSE TO TREATMENT:
- Pockets resolved (<4mm): LL6 mesial, LL7 distal, LL5 distal
- Pockets persistent: LL6 distal (5mm with BoP), LL7 mesial (4mm)
- New deterioration: None.

PMPR THIS VISIT:
- Supragingival: All teeth
- Subgingival: LL6 distal (5mm with BoP), LL7 mesial (4mm with BoP) — ultrasonic + Gracey 13/14
- Instruments: EMS Piezon (PI tip) + Gracey curettes
- Adjuncts: None — disease appears stable; continued mechanical PMPR sufficient.

OH REINFORCEMENT: TePe technique reinforced for LL6 distal — slightly bigger size considered (0.5mm orange). Patient to trial.

RISK FACTOR REVIEW:
- Smoking cessation: Reinforced — significant progress, encouraged continuation
- Diabetes: Improving — patient continues with GP review
- Other: None.

RECALL INTERVAL (BSP Step 4): 3 months. Rationale — Stage III at baseline + smoker + persistent LL6 distal pocket — continued 3-monthly SPC justified. Will reassess interval at next visit if continued stability.

Compliance: the medico-legal angle

• BSP UK CPG (EFP S3, 2021) Step 4 — supportive periodontal care framework.
• SDCEP periodontal care record-keeping standards.
• GDC Principle 4 — longitudinal periodontal records enable monitoring and prove maintenance.
• Indemnity defence — periodontal disease progression is a recognised category of GP dental claims. Documented SPC visits with stable disease are the defence.

Common documentation mistakes

• No BPE comparison to previous — leaves trend undocumented.
• No specific pocket re-measurement at affected sites — can't demonstrate response or deterioration.
• Recall interval set without rationale — should be tied to disease stability + risk factors.
• No risk factor reinforcement (especially smoking) at every SPC visit — missed opportunity AND missed audit trail.
• Subgingival PMPR not done at sites with ≥4mm pockets with BoP — under-treatment that leads to disease recurrence.

Sources

• GDC Standards for the Dental Team, Principle 4: Maintain and protect patients’ information (accessed 18 October 2026)
• CGDent: Selection Criteria for Dental Radiography (3rd edition) (accessed 18 October 2026)
• The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017 (SI 2017/1322) (accessed 18 October 2026)
• SDCEP: Prevention and Treatment of Periodontal Diseases in Primary Care (2nd edition, February 2024) (accessed 18 October 2026)
• West N, et al. BSP implementation of European S3-level evidence-based treatment guidelines for stage I–III periodontitis in UK clinical practice. J Dent 2021 (accessed 18 October 2026)
• Sanz M, et al. Treatment of stage I–III periodontitis: the EFP S3 level clinical practice guideline. J Clin Periodontol 2020 (accessed 18 October 2026)

Frequently asked questions

Guides that cover this

• Direct Access Records for Hygienists and Therapists (UK): What to Document
• Periodontal Staging and Grading: A UK Reference (2017 World Workshop / BSP)

Patient leaflets for this treatment

• Understanding Gum Disease

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