title: Non-surgical and supportive periodontal therapy: predictors of compliance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify predictors of compliance during non-surgical and supportive periodontal therapy (SPT).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this retrospective study, demographic, dental, medical data of 427 new patients in a private practice were collected. Data were analysed in statistical models with non-surgical therapy and SPT compliance used as dependent variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 427 patients, 17.3% never agreed to initial therapy, 10.7% never completed therapy and 20.8% completed treatment, but never entered SPT. Of the 218 SPT patients, 56% became non-attenders after a period of 20 months, 33% were erratic attenders and 10.5% were regular attenders until the end of the observation period (5.5-6.5 years). Patients became erratic attenders after a mean period of regular attendance of 18.1 ± 16.2 months, whereas 49.6% of the patients, who abandoned SPT, were regular attenders until the time they stopped. In a univariate correlation model, periodontal disease severity emerged as a significant predictor of the completion of non-surgical periodontal therapy (p = 0.01). In a multivariate linear regression model, smoking was negatively associated with SPT compliance (p = 0.047).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A low compliance of the population was observed. Smoking and periodontal disease severity represented significant, but modest modifiers of a patient compliance with SPT and initial therapy respectively.
authors.affiliation: Private Practice, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Chrysoula
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Delatola
authors.forename: Evagelia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Adonogianaki
authors.forename: Effie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ioannidou
mesh_terms: D012534:Dental Scaling / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005544:Forecasting; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000145:classification / Q000628:therapy; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000193:education; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D057747:Periodontal Debridement / Q000379:methods*; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000145:classification / Q000628:therapy*; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000145:classification / Q000628:therapy; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000145:classification / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016745:Root Planing / Q000379:methods; D012907:Smoking; D016312:Treatment Refusal
keywords: compliance; non-surgical periodontal therapy; periodontitis; predictors; supportive periodontal therapy