Tooth loss in periodontally compromised patients: Results 20 years after active periodontal therapy

To assess tooth loss in periodontally compromised patients 20 years after active periodontal therapy (APT) and to detect potential influencing factors for tooth loss on patient level.

From a total of 100 patients, who were re-evaluated ten years after APT, 70 could be re-examined 20 years ± 12 months after APT. Tooth loss during 20 years was detected and based on regression analyses the impact of patient-levelled factors was estimated.

Of 1.639 teeth, 201 were lost (mean 2.87 teeth/patient, range 0-19 teeth, SD 3.49), resulting in a mean tooth loss rate of 0.14 teeth/patient/year during 20 years. Mean tooth loss per patient was higher during the second ten years of supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) compared to the first (1.20 vs. 1.67 teeth/patient). As influencing factors age (p < 0.001), smoking (p < 0.001), compliance to SPT (p < 0.001), marital status (p < 0.001), presence of diabetes (p < 0.001) and heart diseases (p = 0.001) could be detected.

Over 20 years of follow-up, a low number of teeth were lost in mostly severely compromised periodontal patients. Smoking, non-compliance to SPT, age, living as a single and systemic diseases like diabetes or cardiovascular diseases negatively influence tooth loss on the long run.