Impact of scaling and root planing on association of site-and tooth-specific factors with bleeding on pocket probing

Objectives: This study was conducted to elucidate the link of site-specific, tooth-related, and patient-associated factors with bleeding on pocket probing (BOPP) and the impact of scaling and root planing over these factors. Method and materials: This cross-sectional study comprised of 50 untreated periodon-titis patients and 50 periodontitis patients who had received scaling and root planing in the last 6 to 12 months and were on supportive periodontal therapy. Multilevel modeling was ap-plied to data, with BOPP being the dichotomous outcome vari-able. Variables that revealed a significant association with BOPP in multilevel modeling were analyzed further to find the influ-ence of the treatment group (untreated periodontitis and treated periodontitis) on the association between predictor variables and BOPP. Results: Odds ratio (OR) for BOPP in un-treated periodontitis versus treated periodontitis was 1.493, and in molars versus anterior teeth this was 1.439. Untreated periodontitis had an OR of 3.500 compared to treated peri-odontitis, in anterior teeth with Plaque Index 0. This was 2.795 and 7.734 in treated periodontitis and 5.106 and 12.762 in un-treated periodontitis at Plaque Index 1 and 2, respectively. Bleeding on marginal probing had an OR of 6.984 for BOPP. Bleeding on marginal probing negative sites had higher OR in untreated periodontitis irrespective of the probing pocket depth. Conclusion: Plaque control is more effective in con-trolling periodontal inflammation after scaling and root plan-ing. The probability of BOPP in the absence of bleeding on mar-ginal probing is higher in untreated patients. The scope of influence of marginal inflammation on periodontal inflamma-tion in shallow pockets is more in untreated periodontitis as compared to treated periodontitis; however, the trend reverses in deep pockets. (Quintessence Int 2022;53: 752-761; doi: 10.3290/j.qi.b3314979)

Automated summary

This study aimed to investigate the association between site-specific, tooth-related, and patient-associated factors and bleeding on pocket probing (BOPP), as well as the impact of scaling and root planing. The results showed that plaque control is more effective in controlling periodontal inflammation after scaling and root planing. Untreated periodontitis patients are more likely to have BOPP in the absence of bleeding on marginal probing.