Success of non‐surgical periodontal therapy in adult periodontitis patients: A retrospective analysis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the results of active non‐surgical treatment in patients diagnosed with adult periodontitis treated in a specialized clinic for periodontology. MATERIAL & METHODS: In total, 1182 patients with adult periodontitis received active non‐surgical therapy, which involved professional oral hygiene instruction, scaling and root planing, supragingival polishing and elective systemic antimicrobial medication. The results of this therapy were based on a full‐mouth periodontal chart as assessed at the time of evaluation. Successful treatment as periodontal pocket depth (PPD) ≤5 mm was the main outcome parameter with bleeding on pocket probing as secondary outcome. Patient‐related factors such as smoking and severity of periodontitis at baseline and site‐related factors such as tooth type, furcation involvement and endodontic treatment were analysed. Possible relations with assessed parameters and the success of active periodontal therapy were evaluated. RESULTS: Overall 39% of the patients reached the successful treatment objective and a mean bleeding on pocket probing tendency of 14%. Treatment success appeared to be dependent on tooth type where the results at single‐rooted front teeth (85%) and premolar teeth (78%) were more successful than at molar teeth (47%). Analysis revealed that in 55% of the cases furcation involvement at molars was associated with the absence of success. Endodontic treatment was associated with absence of success in 8%‐11% of the cases. Smoking negatively influences successful treatment outcome (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Active non‐surgical periodontal therapy in patients with adult periodontitis resulted in approximately one third of the cases in the success endpoint of PPD ≤ 5mm. Sub‐analysis showed that the outcome appeared to be dependent on tooth type, furcation involvement, severity of periodontal disease at intake and smoking status.