Upper anterior tooth mobility. Selected associations in untreated periodontitis

The relationship between buccolingual tooth mobility (TM) and other clinical parameters was studied in 124 upper anterior teeth in 21 patients with untreated periodontitis. Periapical long-cone radiographs were available for 74 teeth in the same population. TM was measured with Mühlemann's macroperiodontometer. Probing depths, attachment levels and bleeding were measured with a constant force probe. Bone levels were estimated from radiographs. Presence of occlusal contact was noted in the intercuspal position and excursive movements of the mandible. Attachment levels showed the highest correlation with TM, and radiographically estimated bone support was the next highest. Results varied according to tooth type: the attachment level of the lateral incisors showed the highest correlation with TM, while probing depths and proximal bone support showed lower associations with TM in all cases. In this population, no association was detected between the presence of occlusal contact and TM, or between inflammation and TM. Multiple and partial correlation analysis indicated that probing attachment level was the most important correlate of tooth mobility.