The nonsurgical treatment of patients with periodontal disease - Results after five years

Background. In a previous study involving patients seen at the dental clinic of the Detroit Receiving Hospital, the authors found that 87 percent of teeth initially recommended for surgery or extraction were spared those treatments by a combination of debridement and short-term usage of antimicrobial agents. The objective of the present study was to determine how long the surgery-sparing benefits of less invasive treatment would persist. Methods. Ninety of these patients were scheduled for maintenance therapy at three-month intervals over a five-year period. They were evaluated periodically for surgical needs,by a clinician who was not aware of the nonsurgical periodontal treatment the patient had received. Results. The initial treatment benefits were sustained, as the number of teeth needing periodontal surgery or extraction was 0.06 teeth per patient after 1.1 year, 0.22 after 2.3 years, 0.51 after 3.6 years 0.86 after 5.1 years. Conclusions. A noninvasive treatment regimen for an anaerobic infection in teeth seriously compromised by periodontal disease resulted in a reduced need for surgery or tooth extraction for at least five years after completion of the initial treatment.