A systematic review on the use of residual probing depth, bleeding on probing and furcation status following initial periodontal therapy to predict further attachment and tooth loss.
BACKGROUND
Chronic periodontitis affects many adults. Initial cause related therapy (ICRT) is aimed at elimination of factors causing disease progression.


OBJECTIVE
To use a systematic review process of peer reviewed publications to assess the predictive value of residual probing depths (PD), bleeding on probing (BOP) and furcation involvement (FI) in determining further loss of attachment and tooth loss following ICRT.


METHODS
An electronic search of the Cochrane Oral Health Group specialized register, MEDLINE and EMBASE, was performed using specific search terms to identify studies assessing the predictive value of residual probing depths (PD), bleeding on probing (BOP) and furcation involvement (FI) in determining further loss of attachment and tooth loss following ICRT.


RESULTS
The searches resulted in 941 uniquely identified studies. Titles and abstracts were then independently screened by two reviewers (S.R. and G.R.P.) to identify publications that met specific inclusion criteria. The agreement between the reviewers was assessed and statistical analysis failed to demonstrate a difference between the two reviewers (kappa-value: 0.94, P = 0.003). Detailed review of 47 included publications resulted in acceptance of one publication which utilized data based on patient as unit of observation. This study included 16 subjects over 42 months demonstrating that residual probing depths are predictive of further disease progression whereas persisting bleeding on probing are not.


CONCLUSIONS
Data based on one study suggest that residual probing depths are predictive of further disease progression. The implications for carefully designed multicentre randomized clinical control trials are many.
Renvert
S
S
Department of Health Sciences, Kristianstad University, Sweden.
Persson
G R
GR
D000328:Adult; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000628:therapy; D012534:Dental Scaling; D017823:Furcation Defects / Q000473:pathology; D006267:Health Education, Dental; D006801:Humans; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000175:diagnosis; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000628:therapy*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D013357:Subgingival Curettage; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000175:diagnosis