Periodontal probing versus radiographs for the diagnosis of furcation involvement.

BACKGROUND: Decisions in periodontal therapy for multirooted teeth are essentially based on accurate diagnosis of the furcation involvement (FI). Furcation probing (FP) is still the basic diagnostic measure, although the assessment may be difficult. The aim of this study is to evaluate the validity of FP and radiographic assessment of FI compared with visual assessment during open flap surgery (OFS). METHODS: In this retrospective clinical cohort study, 215 participants with periodontal disease and at least one molar treated with OFS were enrolled, and a total of 834 molars were assigned for FI by FP and in radiographs analyzed by an experienced (EE) and less experienced examiner (LE). For the investigation, 143 panoramic radiographs (OPGs) and 77 intra-oral radiographs (I-Os) were evaluated. RESULTS: The Class of FI by FP was confirmed in 56%, whereas 15% were overestimated and 29% underestimated. FI Class 0 and I had been detected with high probability (74% and 54%, respectively). Of all FI Class III, 57% were detected correctly by radiographs and 32% by FP. FP and OFS revealed a weighted κ-coefficient (κw) = 0.588; radiographs and OFS had κw = 0.542 (OPG κw = 0.555 and I-O κw = 0.521). The interrater reliability for radiographs was dependent on the experience of the examiner (EE κw = 0.618; LE κw = 0.426). CONCLUSIONS: Experience in analyzing conventional radiographs increases the potential of correct diagnosis of advanced FI. The reliability of FP compared with radiographic assessment depends on the anatomy and location of the tooth. Both diagnostic tools should be used in cases of suspected FI.

Retention of questionable and hopeless teeth in compliant patients treated for aggressive periodontitis.

AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the survival rates of questionable and hopeless teeth in patients with aggressive periodontitis (AgP) and chronic periodontitis (CP) during 15 years of supportive periodontal therapy (SPT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-four AgP and 34 CP patients (SPT≥10 years) with bone loss of ≥50% at ≥2 teeth were consecutively recruited. Bone loss was measured on digitized radiographs and teeth were categorized as "questionable" (≥50 to <70% bone loss) or as "hopeless" (≥70%). Progression in pocket probing depths (PPD) during SPT, tooth loss and reasons for extraction were analysed. RESULTS: In AgP patients, 262 teeth were considered as questionable and 63 as hopeless (CP: 149/51). During active periodontal therapy, 25 questionable and 26 hopeless teeth were extracted (CP: 12/16). During 15.3 ± 4.1 years of SPT of AgP 28 questionable and 15 hopeless teeth were removed (CP: 28/12). The mean tooth loss per patient during SPT in total was 0.14 (AgP) and 0.16 (CP) teeth/year. There were no significant differences in tooth loss or longitudinal progression of PPD between AgP and CP patients. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with AgP, 88.2% (209 of 237) of questionable and 59.5% (22 of 37) of hopeless teeth survived 15 years during regular SPT in a dental school department.