Evaluation of periodontal therapy in undergraduate courses of the University of Basle. A retrospective study.

Abstract

The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the periodontal therapy performed in the undergraduate curriculum (master level) at the School of Dental Medicine at the University of Basle, Basle, Switzerland. Patients diagnosed with advanced chronic or aggressive periodontitis were included in the study, provided that they were ≤40 years of age at the initial examination and had undergone a non-surgical periodontal therapy (scaling and root planing). In the 19 patients included, a statistically significant improvement of oral hygiene (plaque index; p = 0.015) and a reduction of inflammatory parameters (bleeding index; p = 0.009; bleeding on probing⁺; p < 0.0001) were documented during supportive periodontal therapy (SPT). Sites with moderate (PD ≥5 mm; p < 0.0001 and PD ≥6 mm; p = 0.001) and high probing depths (PD ≥7 mm; p = 0.002) were significantly reduced in number, while PD <5 mm (p = 0.014) increased. Counts of single- and multi-rooted teeth could largely be maintained. The periodontal therapy in the undergraduate curriculum is a valuable treatment option for periodontally diseased patients.