title: Comparative study on the results of non-surgical periodontal treatment according to the location of the affected site.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study was performed to compare the treatment outcomes of non-surgical periodontal treatment according to the distribution of attachment loss of a given patient.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-five patients with moderate to severe periodontitis were divided in two subgroups; Group I patients with teeth manifesting attachment loss of ≥6 mm at one or more sites on the buccal/labial aspect while maintaining an attachment level ≤5 mm at the lingual/palatal aspect, Group II patients with teeth manifesting an attachment level ≥6 mm at more than one site on the lingual/palatal aspect while maintaining an attachment level ≤5 mm at the buccal/labial aspect. The probing pocket depth, probing attachment level, tooth mobility, and chewing discomfort were recorded at baseline and 6 months examinations following non-surgical periodontal therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The buccal/labial surfaces of teeth with moderate to severe periodontitis in Group I patients demonstrated a greater amount of pocket reduction, gain of attachment level, and tooth mobility reduction than the lingual/palatal aspects of teeth examined in Group II patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Within the limits of the present study, the patients demonstrating attachment loss ≥6 mm at buccal/labial surfaces responded better to the nonsurgical periodontal therapy than those demonstrating comparable attachment loss at lingual/palatal surfaces.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Pusan National University School of Dentistry, Yangsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Ju-Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Joo-Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Eun-Young
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Yi-Kyeong
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ju-Yeon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sung-Jo
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jeom-Il
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Choi