Desquamative Gingivitis
Phases of Diagnoses and Therapy

Diagnosis and management can be divided into four phases as described by Bystryn in 1988 and Sciubba in 1994.^15,84 These are:

• Diagnostic Phase – essential to successful management.
• Control Phase – therapy designed to reduce or eliminate signs and symptoms of disease.
• Consolidation Phase – reduction or elimination of therapy as the condition improves.
• Maintenance Phase – long-term control of the disease process maintaining the patient in a state of comfort and usually freedom from the disease.