The predictors of periodontal disease progression following treatment need more research

Abstract

Data sources Sources used were MEDLINE, Embase and the Cochrane Oral Health Group Trials Register. Reference lists from relevant articles were hand-searched, as were selected journals. Only English-language studies were included. Study selection Clinical trials and cohort studies were selected when they lasted a minimum of 12 months’ after initial healing and addressed the predictive value of residual probing depths (PD), bleeding on probing and furcation involvement in determining further loss of attachment and tooth loss following initial-cause-related periodontal therapy (ICRT). Data extraction and synthesis Information regarding quality and study characteristics was extracted independently by two reviewers. Kappa scores determined their agreement. Results Only one study of 16 subjects provided patient-based data from longitudinal case studies related to ICRT and provided treatment outcomes with data from initial follow-up at 3 months through to 12 months after initial therapy. Conclusions Data based on a single study suggest that residual probing depths may be predictive of further disease progression. There are clear implications for carefully designed multicentre randomised clinical control trials.