The present paper describes the use of oral antibiotics in the treatment of severe periodontitis based on the composition of the subgingival flora. Antimicrobial therapy is applied within the concept of the three basic steps in periodontal treatment. It is demonstrated in the literature that the use of antibiotics based on clinical and microbiological parameters, can reduce the need of periodontal access surgery. Proper infection control is also related to favourable outcome of regenerative periodontal procedures and periodontal plastic surgery. Therefore, the proper use of antibiotics may result in a shift in indication for different modalities of periodontal surgery.

Failure of root canal therapy is usually due to re-infection of the root canal system. In most of these cases, an endodontic retreatment is indicated. Patients with persisting apical periodontitis frequently are referred to an oral surgeon for apical surgery, although endodontic retreatment would have been possible in a majority of these cases. When endodontic retreatment is not possible or does not resolve the patients problems, surgical apicoectomy or extraction might be the only possibilities left. Apical surgery is usually performed by an oral sugeon or by a specially trained dentist. In most surgical clinics a beveled resection, followed by an preparation and restoration is performed. New developments, such as microscopic sugery, ultrasonic preparation and newly developed restorative materials are described in this article. Since there is a lack of well-designed comparative clinical studies, no definite conclusions can be drawn with regard to the clinical value of these modern techniques.

In the light of the question if there is still an indication for cast gold partial restorations, it is concluded that adhesive dentistry with composite and porcelain has superseded the gold inlay. However, gold onlays with their periodontium friendly characteristics and longevity are still indicated for patients who do not object to gold visible in the oral cavity.

After the last ice-age modern man started to remove, file, dye and inlay teeth. The teeth had such a central role in the imagination that the habit of more or less ritual decoration by incurable manipulation of the teeth spread all over the world. The most skillful and artistic work was done by craftsmen of the Maya. Between 1500 and 1900 CE modern researchers classified the habits as primitive and barbarian but during the twentieth century some of them took the question serious. In the last decennium tooth jewellery is sold more and more often. In two articles the history of teeth decoration is outlined. In the first article the significance of the manipulations was emphasized. This second article will focus on the changing appreciation of the phenomenon.