Stability of periodontally compromised teeth after splint and non-surgical therapy: two cases followed-up for 1 to 3 years

This article describes cases of applying non-surgical treatment including scaling and root planing, occlusal adjustment and tooth splinting of periodontally compromised lower anterior incisors Clinical and radiographic evaluations were performed over a 1–3-year period. All clinical parameters and radiographic bone levels improved in both cases. Dramatic regeneration of alveolar bone and lamina dura were observed on radiographic images, and no specific complications occurred during the follow-up period. Within the limitations of this study, these cases demonstrated the possibility of tooth rescue through non-surgical treatment and splinting of periodontally compromised teeth typically considered for extraction.

Trends in the incidence of tooth extraction due to periodontal disease: results of a 12-year longitudinal cohort study in South Korea

PURPOSE: This study evaluated trends in tooth extraction due to acute and chronic periodontal disease (PD) using data from the National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort for 2002–2013. METHODS: A random sample of 1,025,340 individuals was selected as a representative sample of the population, and a database (DB) of diagnostic and prescription codes was followed up for 12 years. We used multivariate logistic regression analysis to assess the incidence of total extraction (TE), extraction due to periodontal disease (EPD), and immediate extraction due to periodontal disease (IEPD) according to sociodemographic factors (sex, age, household income, health status, and area of residence). RESULTS: The incidence of tooth extraction was found to be increasing, and at a higher rate for TE in PD patients. In 2002, 50.6% of cases of TE were caused by PD, and this increased to 70.8% in 2013, while the number of cases of IEPD increased from 42.8% to 54.9% over the same period. The incidence rates of extraction due to acute and chronic PD increased monotonically. We found that the incidence rates of TE, EPD, and IEPD were all 2-fold higher among patients with high income levels and those who were not beneficiaries of health insurance. CONCLUSIONS: The rates of TE, EPD, and IEPD have been steadily increasing despite dental healthcare policies to expand public health insurance coverage, increasing the accessibility of dental clinics. Moreover, the effects of these policies were found to vary with both income and education levels. Consistent patient follow-up is required to observe changes in trends regarding tooth extraction according to changes in dental healthcare policies, and meticulous studies of such changes will ensure optimal policy reviews and revisions.