Effect of nonsurgical periodontal therapy. III. Single versus repeated instrumentation.
Healing events following nonsurgical periodontal therapy were studied, comparing the effect of a single initial instrumentation to the effect of 3 instrumentations, each separated by 3 months. Incisors, cuspids and premolars with periodontal pockets up to 11 mm deep in 13 patients were treated by plaque control and supra- and subgingival debridement using ultrasonic instruments. A split mouth approach was used to compare the 2 frequencies of instrumentation. The results were evaluated by recording of plaque scores, bleeding on probing, probing pocket depths and probing attachment levels. A gradual and marked improvement of the periodontal conditions took place during the initial 9 months following start of therapy. During the remaining 15 months of the 24-month experimental period no further changes of the recorded parameters were noted. No differences in results could be observed when comparing the effects of a single versus repeated instrumentation. Thus, it appears that deep periodontal pockets in incisors, cuspids and premolars may be successfully treated by plaque control and 1 episode of instrumentation. The results also suggest that recurrence of disease due to subgingival recolonization by microorganisms during the healing phase may not be a major clinical problem.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D003646:Debridement / Q000379:methods; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000379:methods; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000628:therapy*; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000628:therapy*; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy / Q000379:methods; D014945:Wound Healing