A new specific and useful tool in differential diagnosis of periodontitis

These studies were performed to confirm the diagnostic value of objective factors routinely assessed during clinical examination in an aim to distinguish between patients with chronic and aggressive periodontitis. Moreover, these factors were verified with subjective description of symptoms reported by patients. To obtain the appointed targets multinominal logistic regression analysis was used. Sixty three patients, aged from 21 to 56 years, treated in the Department of Periodontology of Wroclaw Medical University, were examined as to their oral hygiene and periodontal status. We determined Approximal Plaque Index (API), Papilla Bleeding Index (PBI), probing pocket depths of less than 4 millimetres, furcation involvement, patient's age and the time of appearance of the first symptoms of the disease. The measured data of each parameter was divided into two groups with the use of standard deviation and the multinominal logistic regression analysis. The obtained statistical results proved high clinical value of the studied parameters and gave evidence that the established protocol consisting of five objective factors and one subjective factor used in our clinical practice allowed for good diversification of patients into the two mentioned types of disease.