Microbiological status at intake in relation to clinical periodontal status at intake and the response to non‐surgical periodontal therapy—A retrospective analysis

Abstract

AbstractAimRetrospective analysis of subgingival microbiological data at intake in relation to the clinical periodontal status at intake and following non‐surgical periodontal treatment.Materials and MethodsData were obtained from a population that consisted of patients diagnosed with moderate‐to‐severe periodontitis who had undergone non‐surgical periodontal treatment between 2016 and 2020. The presence and number of eight selected putative periodontal pathogens [Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa), Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), Prevotella intermedia (Pi), Tannerella forsythia (Tf), Parvimonas micra (Pm), Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn), Treponema denticola (Td) and Filifactor alocis (Fa)] at intake and the percentage of teeth and sites with PPD >5 mm at intake and after treatment were extracted. Correlations within collected data were analysed with adjustment for multiple comparisons. Sub‐analyses were performed based on gender, age, and smoking and diabetic status.ResultsSix hundred and sixty‐one patients could be included. The percentage of teeth with PPD >5 mm and the percentage of sites with PPD >5 mm at intake were significantly correlated to Pi, Tf, Pm, Fn and Fa. Patients with higher numbers of these pathogens at intake had a better treatment response. Those patients with higher numbers of Aa had a lower percentage of teeth and sites with PPD >5 mm at intake. Those with higher numbers of Aa also showed a smaller decrease in the percentage of sites with PPD >5 mm.ConclusionThe clinical periodontal status at intake and the response to treatment showed a weak but significant positive relationship for Pi, Tf, Pm, Fn and Fa. Conversely, higher numbers of Aa at intake were associated with more localized periodontitis and a reduced treatment response.