Microbiological status at intake in relation to clinical periodontal status at intake and the response to non-surgical periodontal therapy—A retrospective analysis

Abstract

Aim: Retrospective analysis of subgingival microbiological data at intake in relation to the clinical periodontal status at intake and following non-surgical periodontal treatment. Materials and Methods: Data were obtained from a population that consisted of patients diagnosed with moderate-to-severe periodontitis who had undergone non-surgical periodontal treatment between 2016 and 2020. The presence and number of eight selected putative periodontal pathogens [Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa), Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), Prevotella intermedia (Pi), Tannerella forsythia (Tf), Parvimonas micra (Pm), Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn), Treponema denticola (Td) and Filifactor alocis (Fa)] at intake and the percentage of teeth and sites with PPD >5 mm at intake and after treatment were extracted. Correlations within collected data were analysed with adjustment for multiple comparisons. Sub-analyses were performed based on gender, age, and smoking and diabetic status. Results: Six hundred and sixty-one patients could be included. The percentage of teeth with PPD >5 mm and the percentage of sites with PPD >5 mm at intake were significantly correlated to Pi, Tf, Pm, Fn and Fa. Patients with higher numbers of these pathogens at intake had a better treatment response. Those patients with higher numbers of Aa had a lower percentage of teeth and sites with PPD >5 mm at intake. Those with higher numbers of Aa also showed a smaller decrease in the percentage of sites with PPD >5 mm. Conclusion: The clinical periodontal status at intake and the response to treatment showed a weak but significant positive relationship for Pi, Tf, Pm, Fn and Fa. Conversely, higher numbers of Aa at intake were associated with more localized periodontitis and a reduced treatment response.