Effects of two different methods of non-surgical periodontal therapy on patient perception of pain and quality of life: a randomized controlled clinical trial.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of two modes of delivery of non-surgical periodontal therapy on patient experience of pain and oral health-related quality of life (OHQoL).


METHODS
Fifty-nine patients with mild to moderate periodontitis received non-surgical therapy using a piezo-ceramic device (n = 30) or curets (n = 29). Periodontal examinations were carried out at baseline and 8 weeks following therapy. Subjects completed the short-form McGill pain questionnaire, visual analog scales regarding sensitivity and satisfaction, and the United Kingdom OHQoL questionnaire (OHQoL-UK) at baseline, treatment, and 1, 4, and 8 weeks.


RESULTS
Both groups showed improvements in clinical parameters with no significant differences between the groups. Pain scores and OHQoL-UK showed no significant differences between the groups. After treatment, OHQoL-UK scores improved from an initially negative effect on quality of life to a level of no effect. Differences in sensitivity scores between the groups were statistically significant at 1 week (P = 0.011), 4 weeks (P = 0.005), and 8 weeks (P = 0.025), favoring the use of the piezo-ceramic device.


CONCLUSIONS
In mild to moderate periodontitis, therapy had a small positive impact on pain and OHQoL-UK scores. These data support the concept that periodontitis may negatively affect a patient's quality of life and that treatment may improve it.
Aslund
Madeleine
M
Periodontology Unit, Division of Restorative Dentistry, Eastman Dental Institute and Hospital, University College London, 256 Gray's Inn Road, London, U.K. m.aslund@eastman.ucl.ac.uk
Suvan
Jean
J
Moles
David R
DR
D'Aiuto
Francesco
F
Tonetti
Maurizio S
MS
D012534:Dental Scaling / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000523:psychology; D003807:Dentin Sensitivity / Q000209:etiology; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000523:psychology