Adherence to supportive periodontal treatment in relation to patient awareness

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the risk profile of noncompliant patients in relation to adherence to supportive periodontal therapy in order to identify factors associated with this profile, and be able to prevent the abandonment of periodontal therapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross-sectional observational and comparative study was carried out on the patients who attended the Periodontics department of a University in Valencia (by a questionnaire and followed-up the periodontal supportive therapy through the medical history.) 220 patients were interviewed and gave their informed consent and data release permission before taking part in the study, which was approved by the Ethics Committee (UCV/2019-2020/048). RESULTS: 48.84% of self-reported patients were regular compliers, in contrast with 10.62% of referred patients. Those with acute symptoms were greater adherent than those patients who didn´t present symptoms. Regarding patients undergoing surgical procedures, significant results were obtained: 69.70% showed adherence, in contrast with 18.67% patients with basic treatment. Results between men and women were similar. However, the age of the non-compliant patients was slightly older. CONCLUSIONS: Self-reported patients presented a significantly higher degree of adherence to periodontal supportive therapy than the referred patients. Patients with acute symptoms presented higher adherence than those without them. Patients who underwent surgery presented a significantly higher degree of adherence than patients who received basic periodontal treatment. No conclusive data have been found regarding sex and age. Key words:Awareness, periodontal disease, compliance, SPT.