Retrospective study of patients who experienced periodontitis during young adulthood

Abstract

Objectives: To determine periodontal status and tooth loss in patients who had previously experienced periodontitis during young adulthood and who had received treatment in a dental teaching hospital followed by self-arranged supportive periodontal care (SPC), and to identify factors associated with tooth loss since completion of periodontal treatment. Methods: Eighty-two periodontitis patients treated at least 10 years previously who were then less than 30 years of age with no systemic conditions participated. Patients completed a questionnaire. Probing pocket depth (PPD) and tooth loss since treatment completion were recorded. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize all variables. Linear multiple regression analysis was used to correlate tooth loss with various independent variables. Results: 34 males and 48 females participated. Mean age in years at recall was 45.9 (±5.3). Mean number of years since treatment was 15.6 (±5.2). Totally 167 teeth had been lost. Average tooth loss was 2.0 (±3.3) per patient, however 42.7% of the patients experienced no tooth loss. Only 3 patients had no PPD≥5mm at recall. Lower education level and greater number of sites with PPD>5mm at recall were associated with tooth loss after previous treatment. Average tooth loss in the lower education group was 2.8 (±4.2) and 1.0 (±1.4) in the higher education group, with this difference being significant (p=0.008). Conclusion: Patients diagnosed with periodontitis at a relatively young age and having a lower education background should be closely monitored and offered SPC following active treatment. Patients experiencing more recurrent disease at recall had lost more teeth following treatment.