Periodontal grading-estimation of responsiveness to therapy and progression of disease.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the capability of periodontal grading to estimate the progression of periodontal disease and the responsiveness to therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-four patients who underwent non-surgical therapy (NST) were included. Direct and indirect evidence of progression were determined according to the current classification. Responsiveness to therapy was examined using mean pocket probing depths reduction (PPDRed), reduction of bleeding on probing (BOPRed), and the rate of pocket closure (%PC) after six months. RESULTS: Statistical analysis revealed no agreement between direct and indirect evidence in grading periodontitis (κ = 0.070). The actual rate of progression as determined by longitudinal data was underestimated in 13% (n = 11), overestimated in 51% (n = 43) and correctly estimated in 30% (n = 36) by indirect evidence. No significant differences in responsiveness to therapy were observed in patients graded according to direct evidence. Using indirect evidence, patients assigned grade C showed more PPDRed but less BOPRed and lower %PC compared to grade B. CONCLUSION: The present data indicate that indirect evidence may lead to inaccuracies compared to direct evidence regarding the estimation of periodontal progression. However, indirect evidence seems to be more suitable in the estimation of responsiveness to therapy than direct evidence, helping to identify cases that are more likely to require additional therapies such as re-instrumentation or periodontal surgery. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Regarding the estimation of disease progression and responsiveness to periodontal therapy, accuracy and reliability of both direct and indirect evidence are limited when grading periodontitis.

Probing pocket depth reduction after non-surgical periodontal therapy: Tooth-related factors.

BACKGROUND: To investigate tooth-related factors that influence the reduction of probing pocket depths (PPD) after non-surgical periodontal therapy (NST). METHODS: Seven hundred forty-six patients with a total of 16,825 teeth were included and retrospectively analyzed. PPD reduction after NST was correlated with the tooth-related factors; tooth type, number of roots, furcation involvement, vitality, mobility, and type of restoration; using logistic multilevel regression for statistical analysis. RESULTS: NST was able to reduce probing depth overall stratified probing depths (1.20 ± 1.51 mm, p ≤ 0.001). The reduction was significantly higher at teeth with higher probing depths at baseline. At pockets with PPD ≥ 6 mm, PPD remains high after NST. Tooth type, number of roots, furcation involvement, vitality, mobility, and type of restoration are significantly and independently associated with the rate of pocket closure. CONCLUSIONS: The tooth-related factors: tooth type, number of roots, furcation involvement, vitality, mobility, and type of restoration had a significant and clinically relevant influence on phase I and II therapy. Considering these factors in advance may enhance the prediction of sites not responding adequately and the potential need for additional treatment, such as re-instrumentation or periodontal surgery, to ultimately achieve the therapy end points.