The Effects of Patient Compliance in Supportive Periodontal Therapy on Tooth Loss: A systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: The present review aimed to assess the impact of being a complier to supportive periodontal therapy (SPT), when compared to not being a complier, on tooth loss in patients with periodontitis.

Methods: Prospective and retrospective observational studies were included. MEDLINE, EMBASE, and LILACS databases were searched up to May 2019. The odds-ratio (OR) and standard error (SE) values of the studied groups (compliant or non-compliant) were converted to logOR, and the results of individual studies were grouped using a random effects model.

Results: From a total of 1815 articles initially searched, 13 retrospective studies and one prospective study comparing tooth loss of complier and non-complier individuals in SPT were included. Meta-analysis of eight studies showed that non-compliers in SPT have an increased risk of tooth loss when compared with compliers. Overall meta-analysis demonstrated that non-compliant patients in SPT have a 26% increased risk of tooth loss when compared with compliant patients (OR = 1.26; 95% CI = 1.06 to 1.51, Heterogeneity: I2 = 0%, p = 0.008).

Conclusions: Patients with periodontitis who do not comply in SPT have a higher risk of tooth loss than compliant patients. Oral health professionals should implement measures to obtain optimal adherence by patients in SPT.