Almost Half of Patients Have Severe Periodontitis

A recent study aimed to implement the new periodontal classification in a private practice setting and assess periodontal stability and tooth loss in patients undergoing supportive periodontal therapy (SPT).

A total of 454 patients were included in the study and classified according to the new periodontal classification. The diagnosis of periodontitis was based on clinical attachment level, tooth and bone loss, as well as grading factors such as bone loss to age ratio, smoking, and presence of diabetes. The associations between periodontitis and age, gender, diabetes, and smoking were also analyzed.

The results showed that out of the 454 patients, 105 were diagnosed with generalized gingivitis and 349 with periodontitis. Among the periodontitis cases, 166 were classified as severe (stage 3 or 4). The majority of the patients with periodontitis had stage 3 grade C (40.4%). This indicates a significant proportion (47.6%) of patients with severe periodontitis based on the new classification.

Furthermore, the study evaluated the periodontal stability and tooth loss in patients who attended SPT. Out of the 344 patients who received SPT, 57 (16.6%) were considered periodontally stable and did not require additional treatment. This suggests that a minority of patients achieved periodontal stability through regular supportive care.

However, it should be noted that 29 patients experienced tooth loss due to periodontal reasons despite receiving SPT. This highlights the ongoing challenge of tooth preservation in patients with periodontitis, even with regular periodontal maintenance.

In summary, this study demonstrated a high prevalence of severe periodontitis according to the new classification in a private practice setting. Periodontal stability was observed in a small proportion of patients undergoing SPT, indicating the importance of long-term supportive care. However, tooth loss due to periodontal reasons still occurred in some cases, suggesting the need for improved strategies in tooth preservation.

These findings contribute to the understanding of periodontal disease diagnosis and the challenges in achieving long-term stability after treatment. They emphasize the importance of implementing the new classification system in clinical practice and highlight the need for continued research and improvement in periodontal therapy to enhance patient outcomes and reduce tooth loss.

Reference:

Elemek E. Periodontal disease severity, tooth loss, and periodontal stability in private practice. Niger J Clin Pract. 2022;25(6):931-937. doi:10.4103/njcp.njcp_1952_21