title: Tooth loss in individuals under periodontal maintenance therapy: 5-year prospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Tooth loss (TL), one of the most visible results of the evolution of periodontitis, causes physiological and psychological impacts on a patient's life. This prospective study aimed to evaluate the incidence, underlying reasons and influence of risk predictors for the occurrence of TL in a program of periodontal maintenance therapy (PMT) over 5 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample comprised 212 individuals diagnosed with chronic moderate-severe periodontitis, who had finished active periodontal treatment, were incorporated in a PMT program. Individuals were divided in to two groups: 96 regular compliers (RC) and 116 irregular compliers (IC). Full-mouth periodontal examination was performed. Social, demographic, behavioral and biological variables of interest were collected at all PMT visits. The effect of risk predictors and confounders for TL, as well as the underlying reasons of TL, were assessed by univariate and multivariate analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TL was significantly lower among RC (0.12 teeth lost/year) in comparison to IC (0.36 teeth lost/year; p < 0.01). Individuals that were > 55 years old, males and smokers lost significantly more teeth in both groups (with IC > RC). The number of teeth lost due to periodontal reasons was significantly higher than TL for other reasons in both groups (p < 0.01). The final linear and logistic model for TL included: male gender, smoking, probing depth 4-6 mm in up to 10% of sites and irregular compliance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IC individuals undergoing PMT presented higher rates of TL when compared to RC individuals. Findings demonstrated the influence of irregular compliance and the importance of monitoring other risk predictors for TL such as smoking, male gender and severity of probing depth during PMT.
authors: School of Dentistry, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors: F O
authors: FO
authors: Costa
authors: E J P
authors: EJ
authors: Lages
authors: L O M
authors: LO
authors: Cota
authors: T C M
authors: TC
authors: Lorentz
authors: R V
authors: RV
authors: Soares
authors: J R
authors: JR
authors: Cortelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D055113:Chronic Periodontitis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000150:complications; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D017823:Furcation Defects / Q000145:classification; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000145:classification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000145:classification; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000145:classification; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking; D014082:Tooth Fractures / Q000150:complications; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000209:etiology*; D014086:Tooth Mobility / Q000150:complications; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000293:injuries; D019553:Tooth, Nonvital / Q000150:complications; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: compliance; periodontal maintenance; periodontitis; tooth loss