Learning Objectives:

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Differentiate clinical attachment level (CAL) from clinical attachment loss and accurately apply these concepts in periodontal diagnosis and staging using the 2017 AAP Classification System.
2. Implement the staging and grading framework to support individualized patient care and case management in both didactic and clinical settings.
3. Identify opportunities for faculty calibration to promote diagnostic consistency and cohesive instruction across the periodontal curriculum.
4. Align periodontal teaching content and assessment with CODA standards, ensuring integration of classification principles into student learning and case presentation strategies.

The 2017 update to the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) Classification System introduced a multi-dimensional, evidence-based framework for diagnosing and managing periodontal and peri-implant diseases. Central to this system are the concepts of staging and grading, which promote individualized, risk-based patient care through stratification of disease severity, complexity, and progression risk.

This faculty-focused course is designed to deepen understanding of the updated classification system and provide practical strategies for integrating it across didactic and clinical curricula. A particular emphasis will be placed on accurately delineating clinical attachment level (CAL) versus clinical attachment loss, a distinction often misinterpreted but crucial for both diagnosis and documentation.

Faculty will engage in collaborative calibration discussions and case-based analysis aimed at standardizing terminology, diagnosis, and treatment planning across teaching teams. The course will also demonstrate how curriculum content and clinical assessments can be aligned with Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) standards, ensuring consistent student education and evaluation.