title: Prospective study in periodontal maintenance therapy: comparative analysis between academic and private practices.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This prospective study aims to evaluate and compare the periodontal status, periodontitis progression, tooth loss, and influence of predictable risk variables of two periodontal maintenance therapy programs over a 12-month period.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 288 individuals diagnosed with chronic moderate-to-advanced periodontitis, who had finished active periodontal treatment, were evaluated in a public academic environment (AG) (n = 138), as well as in a private clinic (PG) (n = 150). A full-mouth periodontal examination was performed at baseline and at quadrimestral recalls, evaluating plaque index, probing depth, clinical attachment level, furcation involvement, bleeding on probing (BOP), and suppuration. Individuals' social, demographic, and biologic data, as well as compliance with recalls, were recorded. The effect of variables of interest and confounders were tested by univariate and multivariate analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The PG demonstrated lower rates of periodontitis progression and tooth loss than did the AG. After adjusting for confounders, the risk variables of BOP (P = 0.047), smoking (P = 0.003), and diabetes (P = 0.028) for the PG and smoking (P = 0.047) for the AG showed a negative influence on periodontal status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In both groups, the periodontal maintenance therapy minimized the negative effect of the risk variables. However, PG showed significantly less progression of periodontitis and tooth loss compared to AG.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Dentistry School, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. focperio@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Fernando Oliveira
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Camila Carvalho
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Santuchi
authors.forename: Eugênio José Pereira
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Lages
authors.forename: Luís Otávio Miranda
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Cota
authors.forename: Sheila Cavalca
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Cortelli
authors.forename: José Roberto
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Cortelli
authors.forename: Telma Campos Medeiros
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Lorentz
authors.forename: José Eustáquio
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Costa
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D055113:Chronic Periodontitis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003740:Dental Clinics; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D018450:Disease Progression; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D017823:Furcation Defects / Q000517:prevention & control; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000517:prevention & control; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000517:prevention & control; D011331:Private Practice; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012907:Smoking; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult