Estudo coorte prospectivo em terapia de manutenção periodontal: análise de parâmetros clínicos periodontais, progressão de periodontite, perda dentária e de modelo multifuncional para avaliação do risco periodontal

Abstract

This open prospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the progression of periodontitisand, in addition, the incidence, the reasons and the role of risk predictors on theoccurrence of tooth loss (TL) in individuals inserted in a program of periodontalmaintenance therapy (PMT) in academic environment. Methods: 250 individualsdiagnosed with moderate/advanced chronic periodontitis, that had finishedactiveperiodontal therapy, in the Faculty of Dentistry of the Federal University of MinasGerais, Brazil, were selected. Individuals were submitted to a complete clinicalperiodontal examination (PMT1) and collection of social, demographic and biologicalvariables of interest was performed. The degree of compliance of these individuals,(compliers, irregular compliers and non compliers) according to the adhesion to theTMP program in quarterly recalls (PMT2, PMT3 and PMT4), wasevaluated during 12months period. A total of 150 individuals, that were considered complete compliers(60%), became eligible for this study. In the recall visits, the following data werecollected for all teeth (with exception of third molars): plaque index (PI), bleeding onprobing (BOP), probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), suppuration (SU)and furcation involvement (FI). It was identified, according to the biologicalplausibility, which risk predictors could influence the periodontal clinical condition andthe progression of the periodontitis. The effect of variables of interest andconfounding was tested by univariate analysis and multivaried logistic regression, aswell as the reasons and types of teeth that were lost. Results: A considerableimprovement in periodontal clinical parameters was observed in the majority of theindividuals. During the monitoring, 130 individuals (86.7%) showed periodontalstability and 20 individuals (13.3%) presented periodontitis progression. Diabeteswas not associated with periodontitis progression (p=0.67) and, in contrast, smokingwas significantly associated with periodontitis progression (OR=2.7; 95% IC 1.01-7.22). 28 individuals (18.66%) presented TL, resulting in a total of 47 lost teeth(1.4%). The reasons and numbers of tooth loss and numbers were, respectively:periodontal disease (n=34; 72.3%), caries (n=3; 6.4%), prosthetic reasons (n=9;19.2%), root perforation (n=1; 2.1%). Molars presented greater tooth mortality thannon molars and men presented 3 times more odds of TL than women (OR=3.16;95% IC: 1.28-7.78). Additionally, individuals with 10% of sites with PD between 4 and6mm presented 5 times more odds of TL (OR= 5.13; IC 95%: 2.04 12.09). Theperiodontal risk assessment (PRA) resulted in the classification of individuals in 02(1.3%) low risk, 83 (55.3%) moderate risk and 65 (43.4%) of high-risk for recurrenceof periodontitis. Conclusions: The programmes of periodontal maintenance inacademic environment can stabilize the periodontal condition obtained after activetherapy, additionally to control and/or minimize the action of risk predictors on theprogression of periodontitis. In this study, the TL incidence was small and restrictedto few individuals. The adoption of the model PRA contributes to the determination ofrisk of individuals allowing the risk scores are compared over time. So, thisinstrument can be particularly monitoring changeable risk predictors and assisting inthe strategy, determination and compliance in the PMT programs. The stability ofperiodontal sites, the control of risk predictors and the reduction of TL can bepredictable goals for the PMT programs, reflecting its effectiveness and betterimproving quality of life for individuals susceptible to periodontitis.