Tooth loss in patients with moderate periodontitis after treatment and long-term maintenance care

Records of 63 patients diagnosed as having moderate periodontitis who had been treated and maintained by scaling and root planing for 10 years or longer (mean 13.6 years, range 10 to 34 years) in dental school clinics were reviewed for tooth loss. The patients averaged 45 years of age (range 24 to 67 years) at the initial appointment, and 41 were female. Record audit determined type of periodontal treatment, total tooth loss, periodontally related tooth loss, loss of teeth with furcation invasion, plaque scores, and maintenance interval. Results of therapy were evaluated by groups on the basis of number of teeth lost. At the completion of active periodontal therapy 1,607 teeth were present in the patients. During the maintenance period, 115 teeth (7.1%) were lost and of these 88 (5.0%) were lost due to periodontal reasons. Maxillary and mandibular molar teeth, particularly maxillary second molars, were the teeth lost most frequently to periodontal disease. Of the 164 teeth initially indicated as having furcation invasion, 23% were subsequently lost. This retrospective study confirms the low rate of tooth mortality occurring when patients with periodontal disease are treated and kept on a maintenance program. Canines were the teeth least frequently lost.