Prospective Study in Periodontal Maintenance Therapy: Comparative Analysis Between Academic and Private Practices

Background: This prospective study aims to evaluate and compare the periodontal status, periodontitis progression, tooth loss, and influence of predictable risk variables of two periodontal maintenance therapy programs over a 12-month period. Methods: A total of 288 individuals diagnosed with chronic moderate-to-advanced periodontitis, who had finished active periodontal treatment, were evaluated in a public academic environment (AG) (n = 138), as well as in a private clinic (PG) (n = 150). A full-mouth periodontal examination was performed at baseline and at quadrimestral recalls, evaluating plaque index, probing depth, clinical attachment level, furcation involvement, bleeding on probing (BOP), and suppuration. Individuals' social, demographic, and biologic data, as well as compliance with recalls, were recorded. The effect of variables of interest and confounders were tested by univariate and multivariate analysis. Results: The PG demonstrated lower rates of periodontitis progression and tooth loss than did the AG. After adjusting for confounders, the risk variables of BOP (P=0.047), smoking (P = 0.003), and diabetes (P = 0.028) for the PG and smoking (P=0.047) for the AG showed a negative influence on periodontal status. Conclusions: In both groups, the periodontal maintenance therapy minimized the negative effect of the risk variables. However, PG showed significantly less progression of periodontitis and tooth loss compared to AG. J Periodontol 2012;83:301-311.