Effect of age on healing following periodontal therapy

The present investigation was performed in order to analyze the effect of age on healing of the periodontal tissues following treatment. The patients included in the present analysis consisted of 2 different samples. One group of 62 patients (sample A) was examined and treated between 1980 and 1982. 13 of these subjects were less than 40 years of age, 26 subjects were 40-49 years of age and 23 subjects were greater than 49 years old. The patients were subjected to periodontal surgery using the modified Widman flap procedure. During the active phase of treatment and for the subsequent 6 months of healing, all 62 patients were subjected to professional tooth cleaning. Instruction in proper oral hygiene measures was repeated and scaling was carried out when indicated. Sample B consisted of 21 subjects treated for advanced periodontal disease in 1969. Six of these patients were between 26 and 29 years of age at the start of treatment and 15 were at least 60 years old. The criterion for acceptance for the study in 1969 was that the patient should have lost 50% or more of his/her periodontal tissues. Following an initial examination, all patients were subjected to scaling and root planing and surgical elimination of pathologically deepened pockets. After the termination of active treatment, the patients were placed in a maintenance care program which included recall appointments every 3-6 months. Once a year after the completion of active treatment, all patients in this sample were examined regarding probing depths and clinical attachment levels. The findings from the present retrospective analyses failed to demonstrate that the age of patients with moderately advanced or advanced forms of periodontal tissue breakdown had an influence on the results of periodontal therapy. If anything, the younger patients appeared to heal with a higher frequency of shallow pockets and more gain of probing attachment than older patients.