Response of molars and non-molars to a strict supragingival control in periodontal patients

Braz Oral Res. 2013 Jan-Feb;27(1):55-60. doi: 10.1590/s1806-83242013000100010.

Abstract

The posterior position in the arches is one of the factors that underlies the poor prognosis of molar teeth (M). It is speculated that M do not benefit from the oral hygiene routine as well as non-molars (NM) do. This study evaluated the response of M and NM to supragingival control during a 6-month period in 25 smokers (S) and 25 never-smokers (NS) with moderate-to-severe periodontitis. One calibrated examiner assessed visible plaque (VPI) and gingival bleeding (GBI) indexes, periodontal probing depth (PPD), bleeding on probing (BOP), and clinical attachment loss (CAL) at days 0 (baseline), 30 and 180. At baseline, M showed significantly higher mean values of VPI (p = 0.017) and PPD (p < 0.001) compared with NM; CAL was also greater in M (p < 0.001) and was affected by smoking (p = 0.007). The reductions obtained for periodontal indicators at day 180 showed similar responses between M and NM. For CAL, M (NS 0.57 ± 0.50; S 0.67 ± 0.64) and NM (NS 0.38 ± 0.23; S 0.50 ± 0.33) reached an almost significant difference (p = 0.05). Smoking did not influence the response to treatment. Multilevel analysis revealed that, only for PDD reductions, the interaction between sites, teeth and patient was significant (p < 0.001). It was concluded that M benefit from an adequate regimen of supragingival biofilm control; therefore, supragingival condition should be considered in the prognosis of molar teeth.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biofilms*
  • Dental Plaque / prevention & control*
  • Dental Scaling / methods
  • Epidemiologic Methods
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Molar / anatomy & histology
  • Nicotiana / adverse effects
  • Oral Hygiene / methods
  • Periodontal Attachment Loss
  • Periodontitis / therapy*
  • Time Factors
  • Tooth / anatomy & histology*
  • Treatment Outcome