Abstract
We evaluated the effect of long-term maintenance on supportive periodontal treatment in private practice, mainly done by a dental hygienist. Subjects were patients-16 men and 24 women-with adult periodontitis. Following surgical or nonsurgical periodontal therapy in private dental practice, the dental hygienist conducted patient maintenance for 4 years. Subjects average 54.1 years of age (37-68 years) at the stage of primary care. Teeth initial by examined numbered 1,010. Clinical periodontal parameters were probing pocket depth (PPD) , bleeding on probing (BOP) , O'eary's plaque control record (PCR) , and furcation involvement. We also studied tooth survival and the relationship between restorative conditions and the clinical periodontal parameters. Marginal areas where PPD exceeded 5 mm or with acute periodontal abscess were marked as recurrent during maintenance. Clinical parameters were then examined at the endpoint of primary care, the starting point of maintenance, and each year of maintenance to years. During year 5 maintenance, PCR indices were continuously below 20%. No significant difference was seen in clinical PPD and BOP indices between the start of maintenance and years 1 to 5. No significant difference was seen in clinical parameters between treatment groups using surgical (N=14) and nonsurgical (N=26) procedure in maintenance. PPD was, however, greater in areas undergoing surgery than in the absence of surgery in subjects in the surgical treatment group (N=14) . Mean recurrence during maintenance was 2%. Obvious effects due to restoration of a tooth crown adjacent to periodontal tissue was not seen in any clinical parameters. Our data suggests that maintenance including a dental hygienist was effective in long-term maintenance of sustainable periodontal therapy in the clinic of a general dentist. Nihon Shishubyo Gakkai Kaishi (J Jpn Soc Periodontol) 48: 123-134, 2006.
