Distribution and influencing factors on residual pockets of the teeth in patients with periodontitis following non-surgical periodontal treatment: a retrospective observational study

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BackgroundPeriodontitis is a chronic and multi-factorial infectious disease. A notable difference exists in the prognosis of patients with severe periodontitis after non-surgical periodontal treatment. Thus, a retrospective study was conducted to identify common and specific factors that impact the prognosis of patients with periodontitis stage III-IV following non-surgical periodontal treatment at different tooth sites.MethodsA total of 977 teeth were included in the study, comprising 266 patients diagnosed with periodontitis stage III-IV. This sample included 330 anterior teeth, 362 maxillary posterior teeth, and 285 mandibular posterior teeth. Following treatment, the teeth were categorized into two groups based on residual pocket depth [probing depth (PD) ≥ 5 mm] at 3 months post-treatment. The prognosis of periodontitis stage III-IV was assessed through multivariate analysis employing logistic regression to determine the association of various risk factors.ResultsThe PD values of each site and the deepest PD values of each tooth significantly decreased at 3 months post-treatment. Residual pockets were predominantly found in the mesio/disto-buccal and mesio/disto-lingual regions. Multivariate analysis revealed that gender, PD, sulcus bleeding index (SBI) and plaque index (PLI) at baseline, and crown-root ratio in anterior teeth had a significant influence on periodontitis stage III-IV (P < 0.05). Smoking, PD, PLI and furcation involvement (FI) at baseline, PLI at 3 months post-treatment, grades of periodontitis, and crown-root ratio were prediction factors for maxillary posterior teeth. Factors such as PD, PLI and FI at baseline, PLI at 3 months post-treatment, and crown-root were significant in mandibular posterior teeth.ConclusionsThe outcome of non-surgical treatment varies depending on the tooth positions for patients with periodontitis stage III-IV. Dentists must accurately identify the affected teeth that have periodontal pockets of more than 5 mm, taking into consideration the positions of the affected teeth, as well as various local and systemic factors. This comprehensive assessment will enable dentists to develop a customized and effective treatment plan.