No difference between full-mouth and quadrant-wise treatment of chronic periodontitis.
METHODS
Medline and Embase, along with reference lists from retrieved papers, were used to source relevant studies.


METHODS
Only English-language randomised controlled clinical trials (RCT) with at least 6 months followup; that used the patient as the unit of analysis; included patients with chronic periodontitis who had not used antibiotics for 3 months prior to the start of the study; and compared full-mouth debridement or full-mouth disinfection with conventional quadrant root planing were included.


METHODS
Measures considered were reductions in probing pocket depths, probing attachment levels and bleeding on probing. Study quality was assessed based on randomisation methods, allocation concealment, examiner blinding and completeness of followup.


METHODS
Data were extracted by two reviewers independently and meta-analysis was performed.


RESULTS
Seven RCT were included. There were no statistically significant differences between the full-mouth debridement and quadrant approaches.


CONCLUSIONS
The review suggests that mechanical or nonsurgical periodontal treatment is effective but showed no difference in the periodontal clinical outcome measures between the full-mouth debridement and quadrant approaches.
Matthews
Debora C
DC
Division of Periodontics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada.