A long-term survey of tooth loss in 600 treated periodontal patients

Accuracy of implant placement in the posterior maxillary region depending on the alveolar residual bone height and sinus morphology: An in vitro study

OBJECTIVES

The primary aim of this in vitro study was to assess the effect of alveolar residual bone height in the posterior maxilla on the accuracy of the final implant position via free-handed and static Computer-Assisted Implant Placement (sCAIP). The secondary aim was to evaluate the influence of the maxillary sinus morphology on the accuracy of final implant position.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Partially edentulous standardized maxillary models simulating three different residual bone heights and different sinus floor morphologies were investigated. One-hundred eighty equally distributed implants, which were placed either free-handed or sCAIP, constituted the study sample. 3D digital deviations were obtained by superimposing the post-surgical scans on the initial treatment plan.

RESULTS

Angular and linear deviation assessment demonstrated higher implant position accuracy in the sCAIP group. sCAIP revealed similar outcomes independently of the alveolar bone height and sinus floor morphology. Contrarily, in the free-handed group, alveolar bone height and sinus morphology statistically affected the final implant position. Non-parametric three-way ANOVA showed significance for implant placement protocol (p < .0001) and alveolar bone height (p ≤ .02) when angular, and linear deviations were evaluated. Sinus morphology was statistically significantly associated with angular deviation (p = .0009).

CONCLUSIONS

sCAIP demonstrated higher 3D implant position accuracy. Alveolar bone height (strongly) and sinus morphology are associated with the accuracy of final implant position when the free-handed implant protocol is followed. However, these anatomical factors did not affect final implant position during sCAIP.

Key themes in periodontal treatment: Lessons learned from 40-year experiences

BACKGROUND

Periodontitis is one of the most prevalent oral diseases with significant implications for systemic health. This study aims to explore themes influencing successful long-term outcomes in periodontal treatment through a historical lens, focusing on various factors influencing the longevity of periodontal health and dentition stability.

METHODS

Utilizing an inductive qualitative thematic analysis approach, this study utilized a retrospective chart review of 19 patient records spanning, on average, 40 years.

RESULTS

Four major themes contributing to periodontal stability were identified: (1) adequate patient plaque control; (2) regular periodontal maintenance; (3) collaboration between hygienists and periodontists; and (4) the application of various periodontist/dentist-performed procedures.

CONCLUSION

Current findings underscore the importance of these factors in preserving patients' periodontal health by emphasizing conservative treatment approaches in the maintenance and retention of the natural dentition.

KEY POINTS

Adequate patient plaque control is essential for maintaining a patient's periodontal health and dentition long-term. A regular periodontal maintenance schedule should be assigned and modified as necessary for each individual patient's care. Collaborative care with hygienist colleagues and ensuring there are flexible treatment options for patients can lead to successful treatment outcomes when hygiene alone is not sufficient.

PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY

Periodontitis is a widespread oral disease with significant systemic health implications. This study examined patient records to identify factors contributing to long-term periodontal stability and maintenance of teeth. By analyzing 19 patient charts over an average of 40 years using a qualitative approach, four key themes were identified in successful patient treatments: effective patient plaque control, regular periodontal maintenance, collaboration between dental hygienists and periodontists, and the addition of other approaches by periodontists and dentists when necessary. The study underscores the importance of these factors in preserving periodontal health and retaining natural teeth with conservative treatment approaches. This research highlights the critical role of sustained, multifaceted dental care and professional collaboration in achieving successful long-term oral and systemic health outcomes.

Diagnostic measures for monitoring and follow-up in periodontology and implant dentistry

This review discusses the role of diagnostic measures in the lifelong management of periodontal disease and peri-implant complications. After active treatment, these conditions require regular monitoring of the supporting structures of teeth and dental implants to assess bone and soft tissue health over time. Several clinical measures have been developed for the routine assessment of periodontal and peri-implant tissues, including periodontal and peri-implant probing, bleeding on probing, intraoral radiography, biomarker analysis, and microbiological testing. This review highlights the evolution of diagnostic practices, integrating traditional methods with emerging technologies such as resonance frequency analysis and ultrasound imaging to provide a holistic view of peri-implant health assessment. In addition to objective measurements, patient risk factors are considered. The goals of periodontal and peri-implant maintenance are to control disease activity and stabilize tissues through supportive care, which includes diagnostic measures at follow-up visits. This enables clinicians to monitor treatment outcomes, assess health status, and detect recurrence or progression early through routine evaluation, allowing additional interventions, including adjustment of supportive therapy intervals, to further improve and maintain periodontal and peri-implant stability over time.

Factors associated with furcation involvement and fixed prostheses: A cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

The study aims to explore the relationship between horizontal and vertical furcation involvement (FI) in teeth with or without a single unit fixed prosthesis (FP).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Adult subjects presenting to the periodontics department requiring cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) analysis were recruited for this study. 79 patients, with a total of 200 teeth, were split into two groups based on the presence or absence of FP within the same patient. Our analysis considered patient-level factors like smoking, diabetes, and periodontal severity and tooth-level factors including root trunk length (RTL), probing depth (PD), periodontal supracrestal tissue height (STH), supracrestal tissue attachment (STH-PD), interproximal bone distance (IPBD) to the cementoenamel junction (CEJ) (control) or crown margin (Test), and the distance from the furcation to the CEJ (control) or crown margin (Test). Subsequently, we developed a predictive model for FI.

RESULTS

The presence of a prosthesis had a significant association with FI, with an odds ratio (OR) of 12.8 (p < 0.001). Other factors significantly correlated with FI were periodontitis (OR = 10.9; p = 0.006), buccal furcation site (OR = 5.70; p < 0.001), and PD (OR = 1.90; p = 0.027). FP placement increased IPBD by 1.08 mm (p < 0.001). The predictive model built for FI demonstrated a sensitivity of 92.9% and a specificity of 66.7%.

CONCLUSIONS

Fixed prosthesis significantly influenced FI only in periodontitis patients. Factors such as periodontitis Stage, probing depth, and buccal site contribute to FI. The high sensitivity of the predictive model highlights the importance of considering these correlations during treatment planning.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Comprehending FI factors is vital for devising customised treatment plans to halt disease progression and enhance outcomes of periodontal regenerative therapies.

Conventional diagnostic criteria for periodontal diseases (plaque-induced gingivitis and periodontitis)

This narrative review addresses conventional diagnostic criteria used in clinical practice to discriminate between periodontal health, gingivitis, and periodontitis. Visual examination of the color and texture of the periodontal tissues, assessment of plaque deposits, periodontal probing assessments, and diagnostic imaging enable the collation of information to make a periodontal diagnosis, followed by an appropriate treatment plan. The periodontal probe is an essential diagnostic tool to assess probing pocket depth, clinical attachment level, bleeding on probing, and the degree of furcation involvement at multirooted teeth. When clinical signs and symptoms of periodontitis are identified, diagnostic imaging enables evaluation of the level and extent of bone destruction and bone defect morphology. The diagnostic process requires clinicians who are trained to evaluate, record, and interpret these measures. This narrative review focuses on conventional clinical diagnostic parameters which, despite their limitations, are considered the current standard of care.

Influence of mobility on the long-term risk of tooth extraction/loss in periodontitis patients. A systematic review and meta-analysis

The aim of this systematic review (SR) was to assess whether tooth mobility (TM) increases the risk of tooth extraction/loss. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO database (CRD42023485425). The focused PECO questions were as follows: (1) "In patients with periodontitis, undergoing periodontal treatment, are teeth affected by mobility at higher risk of being extracted/lost compared to non-mobile teeth, with a minimum follow-up of 10 years?" and (2) "In these patients, does varying degrees of tooth mobility increase the risk of tooth extraction/loss, with a minimum follow-up of 10 years?". Results were reported according to PRISMA statement. Electronic and manual searches were conducted to identify longitudinal studies. The different assessments of tooth mobility were pooled into three groups: TM0: Undetectable tooth mobility, TM1: Horizontal/Mesio-distal mobility ≤1 mm, TM2: Horizontal/Mesio-distal mobility >1 mm or vertical tooth mobility. Tooth loss was the primary outcome. Various meta-analyses were conducted, including subgroup analyses considering different follow-up lengths and the timing of TM assessment, along with sensitivity analyses. A trial sequential analysis was also performed. Eleven studies were included (1883 patients). The mean follow-up range was 10-25 years. The weighted total of included teeth, based on the sample size, was 18 918, with a total of 1604 (8.47%) extracted/lost teeth. The overall rate of tooth extraction/loss increased with increasing mobility: TM0 was associated with a 5.85% rate (866/14822), TM1 with the 11.8% (384/3255), TM2 with the 40.3% (339/841). Mobile teeth (TM1/TM2) were at an increased risk for tooth extraction/loss, compared to TM0 (HR: 2.85; [95% CI 1.88-4.32]; p < .00001). TM1 had a higher risk than TM0 (HR: 1.96; [95% CI 1.09-3.53]; p < .00001). TM2 had a higher risk than TM1 (HR: 2.85; [95% CI 2.19-3.70]; p < .00001) and TM0 (HR: 7.12; [95% CI 3.27-15.51]; p < .00001). The results of the tests for subgroup differences were not significant. Sensitivity meta-analyses yielded consistent results with other meta-analyses. Within the limits of the quality of the studies included in the meta-analyses, mobile teeth were at higher risk of being extracted/lost in the long-term and higher degrees of TM significantly influenced clinicians' decision to extract a tooth. However, most teeth can be retained in the long-term and thus TM should not be considered a reason for extraction or a risk factor for tooth loss, regardless of the degree of TM.

Survival rate of teeth adjacent and nonadjacent to dental implants: A retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the risk of tooth loss for teeth adjacent and nonadjacent to dental implants.

METHODS

A total of 787 patients with an average follow-up of 57.1 months were examined to define the tooth loss, cumulative survival rate, and odds ratio (OR) for teeth adjacent versus nonadjacent to implants. A multivariate logistic regression was employed to assess the association between dental history and various recorded etiologies of tooth loss among teeth adjacent to implants.

RESULTS

The incidence of tooth loss for teeth adjacent to implants was 8.1% at the tooth level and 15.1% at the patient level, while 0.7% and 9.5% at the tooth and patientlevel for teeth nonadjacent to implants. The 10-year cumulative survival rate for teeth adjacent to implants was 89.2%, and the primary etiology of tooth loss was root fracture (45.2%). The risk of tooth loss among teeth adjacent versus nonadjacent to implants was significantly higher (OR 13.15). Among teeth adjacent to implants, root canal-treated teeth had a significantly higher risk of tooth loss due to root fracture (OR 7.72), a history of existing restoration significantly increased the risk of tooth loss due to caries (OR 3.05), and a history of periodontitis significantly increased the risk of tooth loss due to periodontitis (OR 38.24).

CONCLUSION

The present study demonstrated that after patients received dental implant treatment, teeth adjacent to implants showed a 13.2-fold higher risk of tooth loss compared to teeth nonadjacent to implants, with the primary etiology being root fracture.

Tooth loss during supportive periodontal care: A prospective study

AIM

To assess periodontal stability and the association between tooth- and patient-related factors and tooth loss during supportive periodontal care (SPC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A prospective observational study was carried out on previously treated periodontitis patients followed up for 5 years in SPC. The risk profile (low, moderate, high) of each patient based on periodontal risk assessment (PRA) scoring at baseline was evaluated, and tooth loss rates were analysed.

RESULTS

Two hundred patients were included in the study, and 143 had 5-year follow-up data available for analysis. The overall annual tooth loss per patient was 0.07 ± 0.14 teeth/patient/year. Older age, smoking, staging and grading were associated with increased tooth loss rates. Most patients whose teeth were extracted belonged to the PRA high-risk group. Both PRA and a tooth prognosis system used at baseline showed high negative predictive value but low positive predictive value for tooth loss during SPC.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, the tooth loss rate of periodontitis patients in this prospective cohort study under SPC in private practice was low. Both tooth-based and patient-based prognostic systems can identify high-risk cases, but their positive predictive value should be improved.

The economic and societal impact of periodontal and peri-implant diseases

Periodontal and peri-implant diseases result from a chronic inflammatory response to dysbiotic microbial communities and are characterized by inflammation in the soft tissue and the ensuing progressive destruction of supporting bone, resulting in tooth or implant loss. These diseases' high prevalence, multifactorial etiology, extensive treatment costs, and significant detriment to patients' quality-of-life underscore their status as a critical public health burden. This review delineates the economic and sociocultural ramifications of periodontal and peri-implant diseases on patient welfare and healthcare economics. We delve into the implications of diagnosis, treatment, supportive care, and managing destructive tissue consequences, contrasting these aspects with healthy patients.

Clinical evaluation of maxillary sinus floor elevation with or without bone grafts: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials with trial sequential analysis

Introduction

Our goal was to systematically review the current evidence comparing the relative effectiveness of two maxillary sinus floor elevation (MSFE) approaches (internal and external) without bone grafts with that of conventional/grafted MSFE in patients undergoing implantation in the posterior maxilla.

Material and methods

Medical databases (PubMed/Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library) were searched for randomised controlled trials published between January 1980 and May 2023. A manual search of implant-related journals was also performed. Studies published in English that reported the clinical outcomes of MSFE with or without bone material were included. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Handbook Risk Assessment Tool. Meta-analyses and trial sequence analyses were performed on the included trials. Meta-regression analysis was performed using pre-selected covariates to account for substantial heterogeneity. The certainty of evidence for clinical outcomes was assessed using GRADEpro GDT online (Guideline Development Tool).

Results

Seventeen studies, including 547 sinuses and 696 implants, were pooled for the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis showed no statistically significant difference between MSFE without bone grafts and conventional MSFE in terms of the implant survival rate in the short term (n = 11, I2 = 0%, risk difference (RD): 0.03, 95% confidence intervals (CI): -0.01-0.07, p = 0.17, required information size (RIS) = 307). Although conventional MSFE had a higher endo-sinus bone gain (n = 13, I2 = 89%, weighted mean difference (WMD): -1.24, 95% CI: -1.91- -0.57, p = 0.0003, RIS = 461), this was not a determining factor in implant survival. No difference in perforation (n = 13, I2 = 0%, RD = 0.03, 95% CI: -0.02-0.09, p = 0.99, RIS = 223) and marginal bone loss (n = 4, I2 = 0%, WMD = 0.05, 95% CI: -0.14-0.23, p = 0.62, no RIS) was detected between the two groups using meta-analysis. The pooled results of the implant stability quotient between the two groups were not robust on sensitivity analysis. Because of the limited studies reporting on the visual analogue scale, surgical time, treatment costs, and bone density, qualitative analysis was conducted for these outcomes.

Conclusions

This systematic review revealed that both non-graft and grafted MSFE had high implant survival rates. Owing to the moderate strength of the evidence and short-term follow-up, the results should be interpreted with caution.

Maxillary root amputation: Case report with a 14-year-follow-up and updated mini review

Root resection is performed to create a maintainable furcation area in teeth with advanced periodontitis. However, the long-term feasibility of this treatment remains controversial. We present a case in which distal root resection in a maxillary molar successfully preserved the form and function of the dentition for approximately 14 years.

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.

Ceramic anterior veneer restorations in periodontally compromised patients: A retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Successful periodontal therapy can lead to poor esthetic results, especially in the anterior region, for which there are treatment options such as direct composite or indirect veneer restorations. Until now, there are no data describing the long-term results of veneer restorations in periodontally treated patients. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the outcome of anterior porcelain veneer restorations in periodontally compromised and noncompromised patients.

METHODS

Periodontally healthy and periodontally compromised patients, who had received anterior veneer restorations at least 5 years ago, were invited to a follow-up examination. Groups were divided according to their periodontal diagnosis (periodontally healthy, stage I/II, stage III/IV). Tooth loss, veneer loss, biologic parameters, and complication rates were examined. Also, veneers were evaluated according to modified United States Public Health Service criteria.

RESULTS

A total of 68 patients with 312 veneers were examined with a mean follow-up time of 8 years. Veneered teeth in patients with periodontitis stage III/IV showed no difference regarding tooth-specific, overall, and functional veneer survival when compared to periodontally healthy patients (Kaplan-Meier analyses). In Cox regression analysis, follow-up time had an impact on complications and veneer loss, whereas periodontal diagnosis showed no significant influence on the survival of restorations. Comparative tests showed that patients with severe periodontitis at baseline have slightly lower veneer survival rates after 8 years and slightly higher complication rates after 13 years.

CONCLUSION

Long-term results and complication rates of veneer restorations in periodontally compromised patients are comparable to periodontally healthy patients over a mean follow-up of 8 years.

Prevalence of stable and successfully treated periodontitis subjects and incidence of subsequent tooth loss within supportive periodontal care: A systematic review with meta-analyses

AIM

To identify (i) the prevalence of meeting the endpoints of 'stable periodontitis' (probing pocket depth [PPD] ≤ 4 mm, bleeding on probing [BoP] < 10%, no BoP at 4 mm sites), 'endpoints of therapy' (no PPD > 4 mm with BoP, no PPD ≥ 6 mm), 'controlled periodontitis' (≤4 sites with PPD ≥ 5 mm), 'PPD < 5 mm' and 'PPD < 6 mm' at the start of supportive periodontal care [SPC]) and (ii) the incidence of tooth loss in relation to not meeting these endpoints within a minimum of 5 years of SPC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Systematic electronic and manual searches were conducted to identify studies where subjects, upon completion of active periodontal therapy, entered into SPC. Duplicate screening was performed to find relevant articles. Corresponding authors were contacted to confirm inclusion and retrieve required clinical data for further analyses to assess the prevalence of reaching endpoints and incidence of subsequent tooth loss, if available, within at least 5 years of SPC. Meta-analyses were carried out to evaluate risk ratios for tooth loss in relation to not reaching the various endpoints.

RESULTS

Fifteen studies including 12,884 patients and 323,111 teeth were retrieved. Achievement of endpoints at baseline SPC was rare (1.35%, 11.00% and 34.62%, respectively, for 'stable periodontitis', 'endpoints of therapy' and 'controlled periodontitis'). Less than a third of the 1190 subjects with 5 years of SPC data lost teeth-a total of 3.14% of all teeth were lost. Statistically significant associations with tooth loss, at the subject-level, were found for not achieving 'controlled periodontitis' (relative risk [RR] = 2.57), PPD < 5 mm (RR = 1.59) and PPD < 6 mm (RR = 1.98).

CONCLUSIONS

An overwhelming majority of subjects and teeth do not achieve the proposed endpoints for periodontal stability, yet most periodontal patients preserve most of their teeth during an average of 10-13 years in SPC.

Treatment alternatives for the rehabilitation of the posterior edentulous maxilla

Rehabilitation of the edentulous maxilla with implant-supported fixed dental prostheses can represent a significant clinical challenge due to limited bone availability and surgical access, among other factors. This review addresses several treatment options to replace missing teeth in posterior maxillary segments, namely the placement of standard implants in conjunction with maxillary sinus floor augmentation, short implants, tilted implants, and distal cantilever extensions. Pertinent technical information and a concise summary of relevant evidence on the reported outcomes of these different therapeutic approaches are presented, along with a set of clinical guidelines to facilitate decision-making processes and optimize the outcomes of therapy.

A 30-year retrospective cohort outcome study of periodontal treatment of stages III and IV patients in a private practice

AIM

Tooth loss studies show that periodontal treatment is effective. However, it is not known whether these results can be projected into a lifetime of treatment. The aim of the study was to study all patients with stages III/IV of periodontitis over 30 years in a private practice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

All patients referred between 1986 and 1990 were monitored for 30 years for tooth loss and prognostic factors. All dropouts were accounted for.

RESULTS

In all, 386 patients were followed, of whom 283 patients dropped out, leaving 103 patients (67 females and 36 males, average age 40.1 years) monitored over 30 years. Tooth loss was stable until 16 years, when the population was divided into groups of low (n = 65), moderate (n = 18) and high (n = 20) tooth loss, losing 1.05 (SD 1.27), 4.83 (SD 0.96) and 11.90 (SD 4.25) teeth, respectively. The strongest prognostic factors were first-degree relatives with periodontitis, periodontal treatment before the age of 35 years, diabetes and patients with teeth with initial hopeless prognosis.

CONCLUSION

The majority of patients with stages III and IV periodontitis could be successfully treated with conventional periodontal treatment over a period of 30 years. The findings suggest that retrospective studies with shorter observation times cannot automatically be projected onto the outcome of a lifetime of periodontal treatment.

Longevity of teeth in patients susceptible to periodontitis: Clinical outcomes and risk factors associated with tooth loss after active therapy and 30 years of supportive periodontal care

AIM

(i) To evaluate the efficacy of active periodontal therapy supplemented by supportive periodontal care (SPC) in retaining dentition during a 30-year follow-up period in patients susceptible to periodontitis, and (ii) to assess the prognostic factors associated with tooth loss.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

One-hundred and fifty-four patients with periodontitis, retrospectively classified as stage I-IV and grade B-C periodontitis, treated between 1984 and 1986 in a private practice, were enrolled in this study. After periodontal assessment, patients received non-surgical treatment followed by surgical periodontal therapy, orthodontic treatment, and tooth-splinting, where appropriate. SPC consisted of a strict recall programme every 3-6 months over a 30-year period. Recurrences were treated either with subgingival root planing or flap surgery. Dental and periodontal variables were measured at baseline (T0), end of active therapy (T1), and after 25 (T2) and 30 (T3) years. Generalized mixed models were analysed to assess the prognostic factors associated with and survival analyses for tooth loss.

RESULTS

Data on 154 patients (4083 teeth) were available at baseline (T0). Teeth considered unworthy of treatment were extracted during active therapy (160, 3.9%) and at re-assessment (13, 0.3%; T1). After 25 years of SPC, 140 teeth out of 3910 in 154 patients (3.6%) were lost (24 in 18 patients for periodontal reasons). Between 25 and 30 years, 20 patients (482 teeth) dropped out, and 61 teeth (2%) were lost (15 in 14 patients for periodontal reasons). Overall, 201 teeth (5.1%) were lost (39 for periodontal reasons) in 30 years of SPC. Generalized mixed models showed that stage III or stage IV periodontitis was associated with greater tooth loss during SPC compared to stage I or stage II (OR = 2.10; p = .048). Generalized periodontitis showed a statistically significant OR = 3.24 (p = .016) compared to the localized one. In SPC (T1-T3), age (p = .011), gender (male; p = .038), molar teeth (p = < .001), T0 and T1 pocket depth (p = < .001), tooth mobility grades 2 (p = .018) and 3 (p = .050), T0 and T1 bone loss (p = < .001), and presence of a root canal treatment (p = < .001) and a crown (p = .009) were statistically significantly associated with tooth loss.

CONCLUSION

(i) Periodontal therapy and a stringent SPC are effective in maintaining most of the teeth in patients with moderate/advanced periodontitis for 30 years, and (ii) age, gender, molar teeth, pocket depth, bone loss, and the presence of a root canal treatment and a crown are prognostic factors associated with tooth loss.

Clinical, radiographic characterizations and complications of maxillary molar in a periodontitis population: a retrospective study based on CBCT radiography

OBJECTIVE

This study was aimed to delineate the clinical, CBCT radiographic characteristics, and complications of maxillary molar in a periodontitis population.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Medical records and CBCT images were utilized to identify adult patients with periodontitis in a tertiary referral dental hospital between June 2019 and December 2020. CBCT scan images were used to characterize the detailed bone thickness, absorbing height, and position of maxillary molar as well as their associated conditions. All relevant descriptive epidemiological data, clinical information, radiographic details, and associated complications were recorded and statistically analyzed.

RESULTS

According to the above criteria, 577 eligible periodontitis patients were enrolled and defined as research cohort here with mean age 45 ± 4.8 years. Male patients outnumbered females with a gender ratio of 1.23:1. Our results demonstrated that the bone loss of maxillary first molar was more serious than that of second molar with tooth position symmetry. The occurrence of various complications (periodontal abscess, pulp lesions, furcation lesion, and mucosal thickening) was significantly correlated to periodontal-related clinical parameters of maxillary molar.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results demonstrated the more serious bone loss of maxillary first molar with tooth position symmetry. The occurrence of various complications was significantly correlated to periodontal-related clinical parameters. Our findings offer valuable information concerning the clinical, radiographic characteristics, and complications of maxillary molar in a periodontitis population.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

These findings are beneficial for clinicians to comprehensively understand the bone status, pathogenesis, and clinical management of maxillary molar in periodontitis.

Is the Diagnosis of Generalized Stage IV (Severe) Periodontitis Compatible with the Survival of Extended Stabilizing Prosthetic Restorations? A Medium-Term Retrospective Study

The aim of the study was to identify the most relevant patient-related factors directly involved (alone or in combinations) in the long-term survival and functionality of the abutment teeth of extensive stabilizing bridges and removable prosthesis, in patients treated for Stage IV periodontitis, adhering to SPT over a period of at least 5 years. Seventy-six patients treated between 2000-2022, rehabilitated with FDPs and RDPs, adhering to SPT for at least 5 years were included. Patient-related factors influencing retention of RDPs and FDP, survival rates in regular (RCs) and irregular compliers (ICs), and incidence of biological and technical complications were assessed. During a follow-up of 69 months, from 57 patients with FDPs and 19 patients with RDPs, 39 (51.32%) were ICs, while 37 (48.68%) were RCs. An overall statistically significant association (p = 0.04) was identified between biological complications and the type of prostheses. The RDP patients had more complications than FDP patients. In 5.26% of the RDP patients, root caries were identified, and 10.53% were diagnosed with a periapical (endodontic) lesion, while 3.51% of the FDPS patients presented root caries. In five (6.57%) cases, abutment loss resulted in the loss of the prosthesis. Statistically significant correlations were observed between systemic diseases and tooth loss, and between type of tooth lost and the reason for tooth loss, irrespective of the type of prosthesis. A total of 66.67% of the lost incisors, 85.71% of the lost premolars, and 88.89% of the lost molars occurred due to periodontal causes. Furthermore, 93% of the FDPs and RDPs were still in place and in function.

Furcation-involved molar teeth - part 2: management and prognosis

Furcation-involved molars are a common presentation in general dental practice. Teeth with increasing degrees of furcation involvement are at a higher risk of requiring extraction. This second article reviews management and prognosis of furcation-involved molar teeth. An improved understanding of how to appropriately manage these teeth can result in improved outcomes for patients.

The Pattern of Tooth Loss for Periodontally Favorable Teeth: A Retrospective Study

To retrospectively analyze local and systemic factors that resulted in the short-term tooth loss of teeth that were previously assigned a favorable prognosis in patients who were seen and treated over an observational five-year period. This retrospective study included the records of patients who had a minimum of two dental exams at least twelve months apart over a 5-year period. This study investigated extracted teeth with an initially favorable periodontal prognosis that were then divided into one of four categories based on the reason for extraction: caries, periodontal disease, endodontic reasons, or fracture. Patient- and tooth-related factors associated with the extracted teeth were recorded: crown-to-root ratio, initial pocket depth, initial periodontal diagnosis, maintenance interval, presence of existing restoration, furcation involvement, and systemic conditions. Data analysis was performed using a linear mixed model. A total of 50 patients with 111 teeth met the inclusion criteria for this study. A higher odds ratio (OR) for tooth loss due to caries, endodontic reasons, and fracture were found in teeth with a history of root canal treatment with an OR of 3.61, 3.86, and 2.52, respectively. For tooth loss due to periodontal disease, higher ORs were found in patients who were on anti-depressants (OR = 4.28) and patients who had an initial diagnosis of Stage III/IV periodontitis (OR = 2.66). In addition, teeth with initial probing depths ≥5 mm (OR = 4.32) and with furcation involvement (OR = 1.93) showed a higher OR for tooth loss due to periodontal disease. Within the limitations of this study, previously root-canal-treated teeth present a higher OR for early loss due to caries, recurrent endodontic lesions, or fracture. In addition, patients with anti-depressant medication use, sporadic maintenance, initial probing depths ≥5 mm, and furcation involvement represent a significantly higher OR of tooth loss due to periodontal disease even for initially favorable teeth.

Machine Learning in Predicting Tooth Loss: A Systematic Review and Risk of Bias Assessment

Predicting tooth loss is a persistent clinical challenge in the 21st century. While an emerging field in dentistry, computational solutions that employ machine learning are promising for enhancing clinical outcomes, including the chairside prognostication of tooth loss. We aimed to evaluate the risk of bias in prognostic prediction models of tooth loss that use machine learning. To do this, literature was searched in two electronic databases (MEDLINE via PubMed; Google Scholar) for studies that reported the accuracy or area under the curve (AUC) of prediction models. AUC measures the entire two-dimensional area underneath the entire receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. AUC provides an aggregate measure of performance across all possible classification thresholds. Although both development and validation were included in this review, studies that did not assess the accuracy or validation of boosting models (AdaBoosting, Gradient-boosting decision tree, XGBoost, LightGBM, CatBoost) were excluded. Five studies met criteria for inclusion and revealed high accuracy; however, models displayed a high risk of bias. Importantly, patient-level assessments combined with socioeconomic predictors performed better than clinical predictors alone. While there are current limitations, machine-learning-assisted models for tooth loss may enhance prognostication accuracy in combination with clinical and patient metadata in the future.

Compromised Teeth Preserve or Extract: A Review of the Literature

Multiple systems and associated factors have been described in the literature to assess the prognosis of teeth with periodontal disease. Nowadays there is a tendency among clinicians to consider implants as the best solution after tooth extraction, in cases of teeth with a questionable prognosis. However, the value of the natural tooth must be considered, as the proprioception of the periodontal ligament is preserved, and it adapts to stress during functional loads. We first review the literature focusing on analyzing the factors that should guide decision-making to maintain or extract a tooth with a compromised periodontium. Then, we propose a schematic diagram of prognostic indicators to reflect the main factors to consider and the survival rate that each one represents when preserving or extracting a tooth.

Application of bioactive glasses in various dental fields

Bioactive glasses are a group of bioceramic materials that have extensive clinical applications. Their properties such as high biocompatibility, antimicrobial features, and bioactivity in the internal environment of the body have made them useful biomaterials in various fields of medicine and dentistry. There is a great variation in the main composition of these glasses and some of them whose medical usage has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are called Bioglass. Bioactive glasses have appropriate biocompatibility with the body and they are similar to bone hydroxyapatite in terms of calcium and phosphate contents. Bioactive glasses are applied in different branches of dentistry like periodontics, orthodontics, endodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, esthetic and restorative dentistry. Also, some dental and oral care products have bioactive glasses in their compositions. Bioactive glasses have been used as dental implants in the human body in order to repair and replace damaged bones. Other applications of bioactive glasses in dentistry include their usage in periodontal disease, root canal treatments, maxillofacial surgeries, dental restorations, air abrasions, dental adhesives, enamel remineralization, and dentin hypersensitivity. Since the use of bioactive glasses in dentistry is widespread, there is a need to find methods and extensive resources to supply the required bioactive glasses. Various techniques have been identified for the production of bioactive glasses, and marine sponges have recently been considered as a rich source of it. Marine sponges are widely available and many species have been identified around the world, including the Persian Gulf. Marine sponges, as the simplest group of animals, produce different bioactive compounds that are used in a wide range of medical sciences. Numerous studies have shown the anti-tumor, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, and antibiotic effects of these compounds. Furthermore, some species of marine sponges due to the mineral contents of their structural skeletons, which are made of biosilica, have been used for extracting bioactive glasses.

Proposing a model for auditing data quality of long-term periodontal outcome studies

OBJECTIVE

The assessment of the success of conventional periodontal therapy is based on retrospective studies from private practice and university clinics. Due to their marked heterogeneity, it is difficult to assess the data quality and rate these studies. The aim is to test a model for auditing and rating the data quality of periodontal outcome studies.

METHODS

The method was adapted from the NIH Health Care Systems Collaboratory model, which uses three data quality dimensions: completeness (including all the relevant variables), consistency (ensuring that the same variables are compared) and accuracy (proportion of data in error with a gold standard). The model was applied to studies from a Norwegian specialist practice and data from the Norwegian Health database to test if the auditing process was workable using real world data.

RESULTS

Forty-seven risk and prognostic factors were included for completeness. Seven variables were specified for consistency: tooth loss, smoking, systemic conditions, oral hygiene, individual tooth prognosis, maintenance profiles and timing of extractions. The factors tested showed a 95.7% completeness and an average accuracy deviation from the gold standard of -2.3% for each of the risk/prognostic factors and an overall study score of 93.3%.

CONCLUSIONS

It was possible to develop a method for auditing and rating the quality of periodontal outcome studies. The model was tested using both real world data including risk and prognostic factors from individual outcome studies and national big data. The application of the model to these sets of data showed a high accuracy of the risk/prognostic factors and a close relationship with national big data.

A generative adversarial inpainting network to enhance prediction of periodontal clinical attachment level

OBJECTIVES

Bone level as measured by clinical attachment levels (CAL) are critical findings that determine the diagnosis of periodontal disease. Deep learning algorithms are being used to determine CAL which aid in the diagnosis of periodontal disease. However, the limited field-of-view of bitewing x-rays poses a challenge for convolutional neural networks (CNN) because out-of-view anatomy cannot be directly considered. This study presents an inpainting algorithm using generative adversarial networks (GANs) coupled with partial convolutions to predict out-of-view anatomy to enhance CAL prediction accuracy.

METHODS

Retrospective purposive sampling of cases with healthy periodontium and diseased periodontium with bitewing and periapical radiographs and clinician recorded CAL were utilized. Data utilized was from July 1, 2016 through January 30, 2020. 80,326 images were used for training, 12,901 images were used for validation and 10,687 images were used to compare non-inpainted methods to inpainted methods for CAL predictions. Statistical analyses were mean bias error (MBE), mean absolute error (MAE) and Dunn's pairwise test comparing CAL at p=0.05.

RESULTS

Comparator p-values demonstrated statistically significant improvement in CAL prediction accuracy between corresponding inpainted and non-inpainted methods with MAE of 1.04 mm and 1.50 mm respectively. The Dunn's pairwise test indicated statistically significant improvement in CAL prediction accuracy between inpainted methods compared to their non-inpainted counterparts, with the best performing methods achieving a Dunn's pairwise value of -63.89.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates the superiority of using a generative adversarial inpainting network with partial convolutions to predict CAL from bitewing and periapical images.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Artificial intelligence was developed and utilized to predict clinical attachment level compared to clinical measurements. A generative adversarial inpainting network with partial convolutions was developed, tested and validated to predict clinical attachment level. The inpainting approach was found to be superior to non-inpainted methods and within the 1mm clinician-determined measurement standard.

Comparison of the efficacy of periodontal prognostic systems in predicting tooth loss

Aim

The aim of this analysis was to assess how different tooth‐prognosis systems could predict tooth loss in a cohort of periodontitis patients followed up prospectively during supportive periodontal care (SPC).

Materials and Methods

Clinical and radiographic data of 97 patients undergoing regular SPC for 5 years were used to assign tooth prognosis using four different systems (McGuire & Nunn, 1996; Kwok & Caton, 2007; Graetz et al., 2011; Nibali et al., 2017). Three independent examiners assigned tooth prognosis using all four systems, following a calibration exercise. The association between prognostic categories and tooth loss was tested for each prognostic system separately and across prognostic systems.

Results

All four systems showed good reproducibility and could identify teeth at higher risk of being lost during 5 years of SPC; the risk of tooth loss increased with the worsening of tooth‐prognosis category (p < .0001). Although specificity and negative predictive values were good, low sensitivity and positive predictive values were detected for all systems.

Conclusions

Previously published periodontal prognostic systems exhibited good reproducibility and predictive ability for tooth retention. However, low sensitivity was detected, with several teeth in the worst prognosis category being retained at 5 years. Some modifications in the number of categories and their definitions are suggested.

Diagnosis of Tooth Prognosis Using Artificial Intelligence

The accurate diagnosis of individual tooth prognosis has to be determined comprehensively in consideration of the broader treatment plan. The objective of this study was to establish an effective artificial intelligence (AI)-based module for an accurate tooth prognosis decision based on the Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM) comprehensive treatment planning curriculum (CTPC). The tooth prognosis of 2359 teeth from 94 cases was evaluated with 1 to 5 levels (1—Hopeless, 5—Good condition for long term) by two groups (Model-A with 16, and Model-B with 13 examiners) based on 17 clinical determining factors selected from the HSDM-CTPC. Three AI machine-learning methods including gradient boosting classifier, decision tree classifier, and random forest classifier were used to create an algorithm. These three methods were evaluated against the gold standard data determined by consensus of three experienced prosthodontists, and their accuracy was analyzed. The decision tree classifier indicated the highest accuracy at 0.8413 (Model-A) and 0.7523 (Model-B). Accuracy with the gradient boosting classifier and the random forest classifier was 0.6896, 0.6687, and 0.8413, 0.7523, respectively. Overall, the decision tree classifier had the best accuracy among the three methods. The study contributes to the implementation of AI in the decision-making process of tooth prognosis in consideration of the treatment plan.

Oral Health, Antimicrobials and Care for Patients With Chronic Oral Diseases – A Review of Knowledge and Treatment Strategies

Periodontal and chronic oral mucosal diseases are significant life impacting conditions which may co-exist and synergistically act to cause more severe and widespread oral pathology with enhanced challenges in effective management. Clinicians regularly observe these effects and struggle to effectively manage both problems in many patients. There is limited understanding of many basic and applied scientific elements underpinning potentially shared aetiopathological features and management. Recent developments in translational science provide an opportunity to greater improve knowledge and subsequently care for patients with these problems.

Prevalence of Bone Loss in Mandibular Future Abutment Teeth among Diabetic and Non-Diabetic Patients: A Retrospective Case-Control Study

Objective:

This study aimed to compare the prevalence of bone loss in lower permanent premolars and canines, which can serve as abutments for future prostheses, among diabetic and non-diabetic patients.

Materials and Methods:

In this retrospective case-control study, records of patients who visited the dental clinics of Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University were used. Inclusion criteria were the presence of a complete periodontal chart, full mouth radiographs, and past medical history (presence of DM, hypertension, and/or coronary heart disease). The criteria for exclusion were the reporting of malignancy, pregnancy, breastfeeding, or taking of the medications that affect bone turnover, periodontal surgery within the past year, absence of radiographs with good quality, and antibiotic use within 3 months prior to the dental visit. Demographical data, including gender and age, past medical history (diabetic state), and periodontal diagnosis, were collected. The severity of periodontal disease, radiographic bone loss (RBL), and its pattern were also assessed.

Results:

Out of 400 records, 363 patient files were included. Of those, almost 36% were males and 64% were females. The patients’ age was ranging from 16 to 82 years. About 34% of the patients were diagnosed with generalized periodontitis while 22% had localized periodontitis. With regards to the severity of the cases, the prevalence was equally distributed between mild (37%) and moderate periodontitis (38%), while 25% were diagnosed with severe periodontitis. A total of 22% of the patients were diabetic, which showed an increase in the severity of bone loss by an average of 31% across the selected teeth (mandibular canines and premolars). The pattern of bone loss was higher in the mandibular incisors, followed by the canines and the premolars. Multiple regression models showed that non-diabetics were significantly less likely to have bone loss in all the selected teeth and the male patients had 2 times the likelihood of having bone loss. Although the mandibular canines have the highest root length in the mandible, they were the most affected by bone loss in diabetic patients with periodontitis.

Conclusion:

Results of this study suggested that mandibular premolars were the teeth least affected by bone loss in both, diabetic and non-diabetic groups. Therefore, they can be considered the most suitable teeth to be used as abutments for the future prosthesis.

P4 Medicine as a model for precision periodontal care

Objectives

P4 Medicine is based on a proactive approach for clinical patient care incorporating the four “pillars” of prediction, prevention, personalization, and participation for patient management. The purpose of this review is to demonstrate how the concepts of P4 medicine can be incorporated into the management of periodontal diseases (particularly periodontitis) termed P4 periodontics.

Methods

This is a narrative review that used current literature to explore how P4 periodontics can be aligned with the 2018 Classification of Periodontal Diseases, current periodontal treatment paradigms, and periodontal regenerative technologies.

Results

The proposed model of P4 periodontics is highly aligned with the 2018 Classification of Periodontal Diseases and represents a logical extension of this classification into treatment paradigms. Each stage of periodontitis can be related to a holistic approach to clinical management. The role of “big data” in future P4 periodontics is discussed and the concepts of a treat-to-target focus for treatment outcomes are proposed as part of personalized periodontics. Personalized regenerative and rejuvenative periodontal therapies will refocus our thinking from risk management to regenerative solutions to manage the effects of disease and aging.

Conclusions

P4 Periodontics allows us to focus not only on early prevention and intervention but also allow for personalized late-stage reversal of the disease trajectory and the use of personalized regenerative procedures to reconstruct damaged tissues and restore them to health.

Clinical Significance

P4 Periodontics is a novel means of viewing a holistic, integrative, and proactive approach to periodontal treatment.

Evaluation of the efficacy of concentrated growth factor along with bovine-derived xenograft and collagen membrane in the treatment of Degree II mandibular molar furcation defect – A clinicoradiographic study

Background:

The ultimate goal of furcation defect therapy is furcation closure via periodontal regeneration. However, the process of periodontal regeneration is affected by the regenerative environment of signaling molecules and growth factors due to which consistent findings of complete furcation closure could not be attained. In this study, we have evaluated the use of concentrated growth factor (CGF) which provides sustained release growth factors in conjunction with bovine-derived xenograft anorganic bovine bone (ABB) in guided tissue regeneration (GTR) of Degree II mandibular molar furcation defect.

Materials and Methods:

Twenty patients with Degree II mandibular molar furcation defects were selected for the study. Each group consisted of 10 patients and a total of 10 sites were treated in each group. The control sites were treated with GTR and ABB, while the experimental sites received CGF mixed with ABB along with GTR. Clinical parameters recorded were Plaque Index, Gingival Index, vertical probing depth, and horizontal probing depth measured at baseline and 6 months. Radiographic parameters such as the vertical height of defect, horizontal depth of defect, and percentage of vertical and horizontal bone fill were recorded at baseline and 6 months.

Results:

All the parameters recorded showed a significant reduction from baseline to 6 months in both the groups. Significantly higher vertical and horizontal bone fill was observed in the experimental group as compared to the control group.

Conclusion:

The use of CGF showed a positive additive efficacy in enhancing the events of periodontal regeneration in the treatment of Degree II mandibular molar furcation defect.

The impact of a "successfully treated stable periodontitis patient status" on patient-related outcome parameters during long-term supportive periodontal care

AIM

To assess the importance of achieving a successfully treated stable periodontitis patient status (PPS) during long-term supportive periodontal care (SPC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included 100 periodontitis patients, who continued for ≥7.5 years after active periodontal treatment with SPC and were judged as overall adherent. The effect of various predictors on three patient-related outcome parameters was assessed: (1) number of diseased teeth at last SPC, (2) number of teeth lost due to periodontitis, and (3) number of teeth lost due to any reason.

RESULTS

One-fifth of the patients were classified as stable after active periodontal treatment. After a mean follow-up of 10.77 years, 24 patients lost 38 teeth due to periodontitis. An unstable PPS and a higher number of diseased teeth per patient at first SPC, and inadequate oral hygiene levels over time, significantly increased the risk for a higher number of diseased teeth per patient at last SPC and for more lost teeth due to periodontitis. However, high adherence to SPC appeared to mitigate the negative effect of an unstable PPS, especially regarding tooth loss due to periodontitis. Further, tooth loss due to any reason was about 3 times higher than tooth loss due to periodontitis and was affected by a larger number of predictors.

CONCLUSIONS

Successfully treated patients with a stable PPS maintained a small number of diseased teeth and barely lost any teeth during long-term SPC compared to patients who did not achieve a stable PPS after active periodontal therapy.

Periodontal regeneration: is it still a goal in clinical periodontology?

In the last decades, Periodontal Regeneration has been one of the most discussed topics in Periodontics, attracting the attention of researchers and clinicians. This can be justified by the evident and continuous progress observed in the field, characterized by a better understanding of the biological mechanisms involved, significant improvement of operative and technical principles, and the emergence of a wide range of biomaterials available for this purpose. Together, these aspects put the theme much in evidence in the search for functional and esthetic therapeutic solutions for periodontal tissue destruction. Despite the evident evolution, periodontal regeneration may be challenging and require the clinician to carefully evaluate each case before making a therapeutic decision. With a critical reassessment of the clinical and preclinical literature, the present study aimed to discuss the topic to answer whether Periodontal Regeneration is still a goal in clinical periodontology. The main aspects involved in the probability of success or failure of regenerative approaches were considered. A greater focus was given to intrabony and furcation defects, clinical conditions with greater therapeutic predictability. Aspects such as more appropriate materials/approaches, long-term benefits and their justification for a higher initial cost were discussed for each condition. In general, deep intrabony defects associated with residual pockets and buccal/lingual class II furcation lesions have predictable and clinically relevant results. Careful selection of the case (based on patient and defect characteristics) and excellent maintenance are essential conditions to ensure initial and long-term success.

Tooth loss and radiographic bone loss in patients without regular supportive care: A retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Very few studies have investigated the effect of patient and site factors on periodontal progression and long-term tooth loss in populations with minimal dental care. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess tooth loss and radiographic bone loss over at least 5 years in patients attending a national-health service primary care practice in Sicily and undergoing no regular care.

METHODS

Records of two hundred consecutive patients with at least 5 years follow-up were screened and demographic, clinical and radiographic data were retrieved. Analyses of associations between patient and site factors and tooth loss were performed.

RESULTS

After excluding not suitable patients, a total of 159 patient records with clinical and radiographic data with average 8.6 years follow-up were included. One hundred of these patients had no professional mechanical plaque removal (PMPR) carried out throughout the study follow-up. Nearly 65% of patients lost at least 1 tooth during the follow-up period, with a total of 400 extracted teeth (for periodontal and non-periodontal reasons). The annual tooth loss rate was slightly higher for "no PMPR" (untreated) patients (0.30 teeth/patient/year) compared with patients who had PMPR (0.27 teeth/patient/year). On a patient-level, only reduced frequency of daily tooth brushing was associated with tooth loss at logistic regression, whereas staging, grading and diagnosis of caries were associated with rates of tooth loss/year. At multilevel analysis including patient- and tooth-factors, age, diagnosis of caries and endodontic disease and percentage of bone loss at baseline were associated with tooth loss.

CONCLUSION

This study confirms the importance of tooth brushing, initial bone loss, caries and endodontic disease in predicting tooth survival in a primary care setting.

Long-term prognosis of teeth with class III furcation involvement

OBJECTIVE

Evaluation of survival of teeth with class III furcation involvement (FI) ≥5 years after active periodontal treatment (APT) and identification of prognostic factors.

METHODS

All charts of patients who completed APT at the Department of Periodontology of Goethe-University Frankfurt, Germany, beginning October 2004 were screened for teeth with class III FI. APT had to be accomplished for ≥5 years. Charts were analysed for data of class III FI teeth at baseline (T0), at accomplishment of APT (T1), and at the last supportive periodontal care (T2). Baseline radiographic bone loss (RBL) and treatment were assessed.

RESULTS

One-hundred and sixty patients (age: 54.4 ± 9.8 years; 82 females; 39 active smokers; 9 diabetics, 85 stage III, 75 stage IV, 59 grade B, 101 grade C) presented 265 teeth with class III FI. Ninety-eight teeth (37%) were lost during 110, 78/137 (median, lower/upper quartile) months. Logistic mixed-model regression and mixed Cox proportional hazard model associated adjunctive systemic antibiotics with fewer tooth loss (26% vs. 42%; p = .019/.004) and RBL (p = .014/.024) and mean probing pocket depth (PPD) at T1 (p < .001) with more tooth loss.

CONCLUSIONS

Subgingival instrumentation with adjunctive systemic antibiotics favours retention of class III furcation-involved teeth. Baseline RBL and PPD at T1 deteriorate long-term prognosis.

Agreement among international periodontal experts using the 2017 World Workshop classification of periodontitis

BACKGROUND

A new periodontitis classification was recently introduced involving multidimensional staging and grading. The aim of the study was to assess if individuals well-trained in periodontics consistently used the new classification for patients with severe periodontitis. The secondary goal was to identify "gray zones" related to classifications.

METHODS

Participants (raters) individually classified 10 pre-selected severe periodontitis cases using the 2017 World Workshop classification. An internet case-based study was conducted after inviting members from American Academy of Periodontology and European Federation of Periodontology. Gold-standard diagnoses were determined by five experts who developed the new periodontitis classification. Inter-reliability agreement among raters was assessed using Fleiss Kappa index with the jackknife method for linearly weighted kappa calculations. McNemar test was used to determine symmetry between raters and gold-standard panel.

RESULTS

A total of 103 raters participated and classified nine clinical cases. Fleiss Kappa values showed moderate inter-examiner consistency among raters for stage (K value: 0.49; 95% CI, 0.19 to 0.79), grade (K value: 0.50; 95% CI, 0.30 to 0.70) and extent (K value: 0.51; 95% CI, 0.23 to 0.77). When analyzed as composite (stage, grade, extent) a moderate inter-reliability was present among raters, k = 0.479 (K value: 0.47; 95% CI, 0.442 to 0.515). Agreement between raters and gold-standard panel was staging 76.6%; grading 82%; and extent 84.8%. In six of nine cases 77% to 99% of raters consistently agreed with gold-standard panel, and the other three cases had gray zone factors that reduced rater consistency.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinicians trained in the 2017 World Workshop periodontitis classification demonstrated moderate concordance in classifying nine severe periodontitis cases, and in six of nine cases raters consistently agreed with the gold-standard panel.

Periodontal furcation lesions: A survey of diagnosis and management by general dental practitioners

AIM

The aim of this study was to explore general dental practitioners' (GDPs) attitude to periodontal furcation involvement (FI).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An online survey focused on diagnosis and management of periodontal FI was circulated to GDPs in seven different countries.

RESULTS

A total of 400 responses were collected. Nearly a fifth of participants reported rarely or never taking 6-point pocket charts; 65.8% of participants had access to a Nabers probe in their practice. When shown clinical pictures and radiographs of FI-involved molars, the majority of participants correctly diagnosed it. Although 47.1% of participants were very/extremely confident in detecting FI, only 8.9% felt very/extremely confident at treating it. Differences in responses were detected according to country and year of qualification, with a trend towards less interest in periodontal diagnosis and treatment in younger generations. Lack of knowledge of management/referral pathways (reported by 22.8%) and lack of correct equipment were considered the biggest barriers to FI management. Most participants (80.9%) were interested in learning more about FI, ideally face to face followed by online tutorials.

CONCLUSIONS

Plans should be put in place to improve general dentists' knowledge and ability to manage FI, as this can have a significant impact on public health.

Multivariate outcome evaluation of furcation-involved molars treated with non-surgical mechanical therapy alone or combined with open flap debridement: A retrospective study

BACKGROUND

This retrospective study assessed the effect of non-surgical and surgical mechanical therapy for furcation-involved molars.

METHODS

Furcation defects treated and followed for at least 1 year were selected. Data relative to the clinical outcomes were recorded. The immediate (3- to 6-month) clinical outcomes and the long-term survival of the treated molars were assessed. The potential variables influencing the treatment outcomes through multi-level regression analysis, and Cox Proportional-Hazards Models were also analyzed.

RESULTS

One hundred and eighty-four molars were included with an average follow-up of 7.52 years. At the 3- to 6-month re-evaluation 1.39 ± 0.99 mm pocket depth reduction, 0.88 ± 1.29 mm clinical attachment gain, and a 0.51 ± 1.13 mm increase in recession was observed. The 5- and 10-year survival rates were 88.3% and 61.3%, respectively. The horizontal and vertical extent of furcation involvement, baseline probing depth, mucoperiosteal flap elevation, and the frequency of supportive periodontal therapy influenced the clinical outcomes and tooth survival.

CONCLUSION

Non-surgical and surgical mechanical root debridement is a viable treatment for the management of furcation involved molars with shallow horizontal and vertical components.

Development of a prognostic tool: based on risk factors for tooth loss after active periodontal therapy

Objectives

The aim of this study was to develop a prognostic tool to estimate long-term tooth retention in periodontitis patients at the beginning of active periodontal therapy (APT).

Material and methods

Tooth-related factors (type, location, bone loss (BL), infrabony defects, furcation involvement (FI), abutment status), and patient-related factors (age, gender, smoking, diabetes, plaque control record) were investigated in patients who had completed APT 10 years before. Descriptive analysis was performed, and a generalized linear-mixed model-tree was used to identify predictors for the main outcome variable tooth loss. To evaluate goodness-of-fit, the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated using cross-validation. A bootstrap approach was used to robustly identify risk factors while avoiding overfitting.

Results

Only a small percentage of teeth was lost during 10 years of supportive periodontal therapy (SPT; 0.15/year/patient). The risk factors abutment function, diabetes, and the risk indicator BL, FI, and age (≤ 61 vs. > 61) were identified to predict tooth loss. The prediction model reached an AUC of 0.77.

Conclusion

This quantitative prognostic model supports data-driven decision-making while establishing a treatment plan in periodontitis patients. In light of this, the presented prognostic tool may be of supporting value.

Clinical relevance

In daily clinical practice, a quantitative prognostic tool may support dentists with data-based decision-making. However, it should be stressed that treatment planning is strongly associated with the patient’s wishes and adherence. The tool described here may support establishment of an individual treatment plan for periodontally compromised patients.

Determinants of Tooth Loss in a Medicaid Adult Population

BACKGROUND

The objective of this retrospective cohort study is to examine the determinants of tooth loss in a Medicaid-enrolled population using claims data from 2016 to 2018.

METHODS

Deidentified administrative claims data for Medicaid-enrolled adults between the ages of 50 and 90 y in 2016 to 2018 were examined using the IBM Watson MarketScan Medicaid Database. The sample size was 91,468. The entire sample was divided into 2 cohorts: no tooth loss cohort (n = 54,786) and tooth loss cohort (n = 36,682). The tooth loss cohort was further divided into 2 groups: 1 to 5 teeth lost (n = 29,141) and 6 or more teeth lost (n = 7,541). Tooth loss was described by age, gender, race, number of commodities, and if periodontal treatment was performed. Logistic regression models were conducted to examine factors associated with tooth loss.

RESULTS

Within the tooth loss cohort, the patients who had periodontal treatment had higher odds of losing at least 1 tooth (odds ratio [OR], 1.15; confidence interval [CI], 1.10-1.20) and lower odds of losing 6 or more teeth (OR, 0.25; CI, 0.22-0.29). In the regression analysis, the predictive margins of tooth loss for 1 tooth and 6 or more teeth follow a linear path. Compared to no comorbidities, the odds of losing 6 or more teeth increased with 1, 2, or 3+ comorbidities.

KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER STATEMENT

This study provides significant information about the quantification of comorbidities and its direct correlation with the increased odds of tooth loss. This study also highlighted the protective effect of periodontal treatment on tooth loss. This knowledge can be useful to dental care providers to understand the risk of tooth loss in their patient population.

Retrospective long-term analysis of tooth loss over 20 years in a specialist practice setting: Periodontally healthy/gingivitis and compromised patients

OBJECTIVE

To assess tooth loss (TL) in initially periodontally healthy/gingivitis (PHG) and periodontally compromised (PC) individuals during a 15- to 25-year follow-up in a specialist practice and to identify the factors influencing TL.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients were re-examined 240 ± 60 months after active periodontal therapy (PC) or initial examination (PHG). PHG patients were periodontally healthy or had gingivitis, and PC patients exhibited at least stage II periodontitis. TL, patient-related outcomes, and risk factors for TL were assessed at the patient level (group-relation, gender, age, smoking, bleeding on probing, educational status, mean number of visits/year).

RESULTS

Fifty-six PC patients receiving regular supportive periodontal care (12 female, mean age 49.1 ± 10.9 years, stage II: 10, stage III/IV: 46) lost 38 teeth (0.03 ± 0.05 teeth/year). Fifty-one PHG patients (23 female, mean age 34.5 ± 12.4 years) following regular oral prevention lost 39 teeth (0.04 ± 0.05 teeth/year) (p = .631). Both PC and PHG groups did not show any significant differences regarding visual analogue scale measurements [aesthetics (p = .309), chewing function (p = .362), hygiene (p = .989)] and overall Oral Health Impact Profile (p = .484). Age at the start of follow-up was identified as a risk factor for TL (p < .0001).

CONCLUSION

PC and PHG patients exhibited similarly small TL rates over 240 ± 60 months, which should, however, be interpreted with caution in view of the group heterogeneity. Clinical trial number: DRKS00018840 (URL: https://drks.de).

Minimally Invasive Periodontology: A Treatment Philosophy and Suggested Approach

Severe periodontitis is a highly prevalent dental disease. With the advent of implant dentistry, teeth are often extracted and replaced. Periodontal surgery, where indicated, could also result in increased trauma to the patient. This literature review discusses different treatment modalities for periodontitis and proposes a treatment approach emphasizing maximum preservation of teeth while minimizing morbidity to the patient. Scientific articles were retrieved from the MEDLINE/PubMed database up to January 2021 to identify appropriate articles that addressed the objectives of this review. This was supplemented with hand searching using reference lists from relevant articles. As tooth prognostication does not have a high predictive value, a more conservative approach in extracting teeth should be abided by. This may involve repeated rounds of nonsurgical periodontal therapy, and adjuncts such as locally delivered statin gels and subantimicrobial-dose doxycycline appear to be effective. Periodontal surgery should not be carried out at an early phase in therapy as improvements in nonsurgical therapy may be observed up to 12 months from initial treatment. Periodontal surgery, where indicated, should also be minimally invasive, with periodontal regeneration being shown to be effective over 20 years of follow-up. Biomarkers provide an opportunity for early detection of disease activity and personalised treatment. Quality of life is proposed as an alternative end point to the traditional biomedical paradigm focused on the disease state and clinical outcomes. In summary, minimally invasive therapy aims to preserve health and function of the natural dentition, thus improving the quality of life for patients with periodontitis.

Predictors of tooth loss during long-term periodontal maintenance: An updated systematic review

AIM

To evaluate the risk factors / predictors of tooth loss in patients with periodontitis who underwent periodontal therapy and long-term periodontal maintenance (PM).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

PubMed, CENTRAL, EMBASE, Web of Science, LILACS and Scholar were searched up to and including September 2020. Studies limited to periodontitis patients who underwent active periodontal therapy (APT) and followed a regular PM programme with 5 years follow-up minimum were eligible for inclusion in this review. Studies were included if they reported data on tooth loss during PM. Random effects meta-analyses of number of tooth loss per patient per year were conducted.

RESULTS

Thirty-six papers regarding thirty-three studies were included in this review, with three prospective 30 retrospective trials. Subgroup meta-analysis showed no differences between prospective and retrospective studies, with an average of 0.1 tooth loss per year per patient (p < 0.001). Maxillary and molar teeth were more susceptible to be extracted during long-term PM. Baseline characteristics (smoking, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, being male and teeth with furcation lesions) showed no significance as predictor of tooth loss through meta-regression. The percentage of tooth loss due to periodontal reasons ranged from 0.45% to 14.4%. The individual outcomes in each study evidenced different patient-related factors (age and smoking) and tooth-related factors (i.e. tooth type and location) were associated with tooth loss during PM.

CONCLUSION

The majority of patients undergoing long-term PM have not lost teeth. On average, long-term PM effectively causes the loss of 1 tooth per patient every 10 years. Additional prospective trials may confirm these results.

Success of supportive periodontal therapy in periodontitis patients - A retrospective analysis

Objective

The aim of this retrospective analysis was to evaluate, in adult patients treated for periodontitis, the periodontal stability during supportive periodontal therapy (SPT).

Methods

Data were collected and analyzed retrospectively for periodontitis patients aged ≥36 years who underwent active periodontal therapy (APT) and were following an SPT programme. The stability of the APT success, defined as a probing pocket depth (PPD) of ≤5 mm, was the main outcome parameter. Analyses were performed in which PPD, tooth loss (TL), bleeding on probing (BOP), periodontal epithelium surface area (PESA), and the effects of age, gender, smoking status, and the number of years in SPT were evaluated. The annual TL and BOP of <10% in addition to a PPD of ≤5 mm were considered to be secondary outcome variables.

Results

In total, 993 patients were included, in 36% of whom a PPD ≤5 mm was found at the evaluation of APT. If the outcome was defined as a BOP of <10% in addition to a PPD of ≤5 mm, this was present in only 16% of the patients. During SPT, a small overall increase in clinical parameters for the total population and an annual average TL of 0.15 per patient was observed. Patients of male gender and smokers negatively affected the success of SPT.

Conclusion

The periodontal clinical status remained ‘fairly’ stable during SPT in chronic periodontitis patients aged ≥36 years. Smoking negatively affects the outcome of APT and periodontal stability during SPT.

Association, prediction, generalizability: Cross-center validity of predicting tooth loss in periodontitis patients

OBJECTIVES

To predict patients' tooth loss during supportive periodontal therapy across four German university centers.

METHODS

Tooth loss in 897 patients in four centers (Kiel (KI) n = 391; Greifswald (GW) n = 282; Heidelberg (HD) n = 175; Frankfurt/Main (F) n = 49) during supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) was assessed. Our outcome was annualized tooth loss per patient. Multivariable linear regression models were built on data of 75 % of patients from one center and used for predictions on the remaining 25 % of this center and 100 % of data from the other three centers. The prediction error was assessed as root-mean-squared-error (RMSE), i.e., the deviation of predicted from actually lost teeth per patient and year.

RESULTS

Annualized tooth loss/patient differed significantly between centers (between median 0.00 (interquartile interval: 0.00, 0.17) in GW and 0.09 (0.00, 0.19) in F, p = 0.001). Age, smoking status and number of teeth before SPT were significantly associated with tooth loss (p < 0.03). Prediction within centers showed RMSE of 0.14-0.30, and cross-center RMSE was 0.15-0.31. Predictions were more accurate in F and KI than in HD and GW, while the center on which the model was trained had a less consistent impact. No model showed useful predictive values.

CONCLUSION

While covariates were significantly associated with tooth loss in linear regression models, a clinically useful prediction was not possible with any of the models and generalizability was not given. Predictions were more accurate for certain centers.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Association should not be confused with predictive value: Despite significant associations of covariates with tooth loss, none of our models was useful for prediction. Usually, model accuracy was even lower when tested across centers, indicating low generalizability.

Economic evaluations in the treatment and evaluation of patients with periodontal disease: A critical review

AIM

To evaluate the types and quality of reporting of economic evaluations carried out in the clinical management of periodontal disease over 32 years from 1987 to 2019.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A systematic search of articles from 1987 to 2019 was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Health Technology Assessment Database and Embase. The quality of the economic evaluations was assessed based on the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standard checklist. Due to considerable between-study heterogeneity, a meta-analysis was not performed.

RESULTS

Twenty one publications were included. 11 studies used cost-effectiveness analysis, five used cost-minimization analysis, four used cost-utility analysis and two used cost-benefit analysis. Comparators, choice of health outcomes, estimating resources and costs were fully reported in all studies. Many studies had inadequate reporting in terms of estimating resources and costs, choice of health outcomes, characterizing heterogeneity and study perspective.

CONCLUSIONS

There has been an increase in health economics studies in the field of clinical periodontology over the past decade. Several studies did not report study perspective, and the health outcomes chosen were not relevant for some studies. Future studies should follow an economic evaluation checklist for high-quality reporting and consistency.

Tooth loss in complying and non-complying periodontitis patients with different periodontal risk levels during supportive periodontal care

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate yearly tooth loss rate (TLR) in periodontitis patients with different periodontal risk levels who had complied or not complied with supportive periodontal care (SPC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data from 168 periodontitis patients enrolled in a SPC program based on a 3-month suggested recall interval for at least 3.5 years were analyzed. For patients with a mean recall interval within 2-4 months ("compliers") or > 4 months ("non-compliers") with different PerioRisk levels (Trombelli et al. 2009), TLR (irrespective of the cause for tooth loss) was calculated. TLR values were considered in relation to meaningful TLR benchmarks from the literature for periodontitis patients either under SPC (0.15 teeth/year; positive benchmark) or irregularly complying with SPC (0.36 teeth/year; negative benchmark).

RESULTS

In both compliers and non-compliers, TLR was significantly below or similar to the positive benchmark in PerioRisk level 3 (0.08 and 0.03 teeth/year, respectively) and PerioRisk level 4 (0.12 and 0.18 teeth/year, respectively). Although marked and clinically relevant in non-compliers, the difference between TLR of compliers (0.32 teeth/year) and non-compliers (0.52 teeth/year) with PerioRisk level 5 and the negative benchmark was not significant.

CONCLUSION

A SPC protocol based on a 3- to 6-month recall interval may effectively limit long-term tooth loss in periodontitis patients with PerioRisk levels 3 and 4. A fully complied 3-month SPC protocol seems ineffective when applied to PerioRisk level 5 patients.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

PerioRisk seems to represent a valid tool to inform the SPC recall interval as well as the intensity of active treatment prior to SPC enrollment.