Objective
To assess tooth loss (TL) in initially periodontally healthy/gingivitis (PHG) and periodontally compromised (PC) individuals during a 15‐ to 25‐year follow‐up in a specialist practice and to identify the factors influencing TL.
Materials and methods
Patients were re‐examined 240 ± 60 months after active periodontal therapy (PC) or initial examination (PHG). PHG patients were periodontally healthy or had gingivitis, and PC patients exhibited at least stage II periodontitis. TL, patient‐related outcomes, and risk factors for TL were assessed at the patient level (group‐relation, gender, age, smoking, bleeding on probing, educational status, mean number of visits/year).
Results
Fifty‐six PC patients receiving regular supportive periodontal care (12 female, mean age 49.1 ± 10.9 years, stage II: 10, stage III/IV: 46) lost 38 teeth (0.03 ± 0.05 teeth/year). Fifty‐one PHG patients (23 female, mean age 34.5 ± 12.4 years) following regular oral prevention lost 39 teeth (0.04 ± 0.05 teeth/year) (p = .631). Both PC and PHG groups did not show any significant differences regarding visual analogue scale measurements [aesthetics (p = .309), chewing function (p = .362), hygiene (p = .989)] and overall Oral Health Impact Profile (p = .484). Age at the start of follow‐up was identified as a risk factor for TL (p < .0001).
Conclusion
PC and PHG patients exhibited similarly small TL rates over 240 ± 60 months, which should, however, be interpreted with caution in view of the group heterogeneity.
Clinical trial number: DRKS00018840 (URL: https://drks.de).