Tooth loss and pocket probing depths in compliant periodontally treated patients: a retrospective analysis.
OBJECTIVE
This retrospective study determined the treatment outcomes of 142 compliant periodontal patients observed for at least 10 years at the University of Kiel. All patients had been treated for moderate to advanced periodontitis and regularly received supportive periodontal therapy (SPT).


METHODS
Patient- and tooth-related variables [tooth loss and pocket probing depth (PPD)] were analysed.


RESULTS
Of a total of 3353 teeth, 167 were extracted during active treatment and 99 during SPT, mainly for periodontal reasons. Forty-five per cent of the patients did not lose any teeth during 11.7 years of observation. Thirty-seven per cent underwent extractions during active treatment or SPT, 18% both during active periodontal therapy and SPT. Mean tooth loss per patient was 0.07 teeth/year during SPT. Mobility, furcation involvement, smoking, and prescription antibiotics had a negative impact on prognosis. Intraindividual differences in PPD were significant between single- and multirooted teeth with initial PPD > or = 4 mm at baseline, following active treatment and at the end of SPT, and between firm and mobile teeth at baseline. Interindividual differences in mean PPD were only significant between smokers and non-smokers at the end of the observation period.


CONCLUSIONS
Long-term maintenance of our patients was effective. Periodontal disease represented the major cause of tooth loss in a minority of the population.
König
Jörgen
J
Department of Periodontology, Dental School, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
Plagmann
Hans-Christian
HC
Rühling
Andreas
A
Kocher
Thomas
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003777:Dental Prophylaxis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D017823:Furcation Defects / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000517:prevention & control; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000628:therapy*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012907:Smoking; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000517:prevention & control; D014086:Tooth Mobility / Q000517:prevention & control; D016896:Treatment Outcome