The prevention, detection, and treatment of periodontal disease should be among the foremost goals of dentistry. When a systematic examination is used, detection of the disease need not be a lengthy or cumbersome procedure. The mesiofacial aspect of every tooth should be probed and recorded. The integrity of all furcations should be carefully checked, mobility patterns should be recorded, and the patient should be examined for any mucognigival problems. If any of these problems are detected, the clinician must decide whether he will treat the problem himself or refer the patient to someone else. The important thing is that periodontal disease has been recognized and can, therefore, be dealt with.