LAUSR

BACKGROUND To evaluate periodontal disease progression (PDP) and potentially detectable effects of a single episode of scaling and root planing (se-SRP) in subjects lacking professional dental care and oral hygiene practices for more than 40 years. METHODS In 2013, se-SRP was offered to all available subjects from the original cohort of 480 males initially established in 1970. From a total of 75 attending the previous examination in 2010 (baseline), 27 consented to receive the intervention while 18 declining served as controls. Clinical data were recorded again in 2014 (follow-up) similarly to the previous surveys (1970-2010). RESULTS Subjects' mean age in 2010 was 62.5 (±3.6, test) and 61.9 (±3.8, control). At follow-up, both groups presented with elevated tooth loss of 1.2 (from 15.5±9.0, test) and 1.5 (from 17.9±6.6, control) resulting in 1'392 (test) and 1'061 (control) sites available for further analysis. In both groups, clinical attachment level (CAL) loss and periodontal probing depths (PPD) deteriorated. PPD increase of 0.22mm (±1.70) in the test group was significantly higher compared to the control group (0.08mm±1.30) (p<0.0001) demonstrating unaffected PDP. Computed estimates of further PDP revealed CAL and PPD reductions in subjects aged 40 or older. Specifically, the latter was positively correlated with tooth loss in subjects 40 or older (ρ = 0.69, p = 0.0012) and 50 years or older (r = 0.62, p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS se-SRP in previously untreated periodontitis subjects 50 years or older may be ineffective in reducing PDP thus demanding advanced preventive measures, treatment in the first half of life and sustained access to supportive care. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.