Association of initial mucogingival status with clinical outcome of non-surgical periodontal therapy: A retrospective analysis of 204 patients.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: This study was conducted to evaluate the influence of mucogingival parameters, including keratinized mucosa (KM) and attached gingiva (AG), on the outcome of non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT).

METHODS: A total of 204 non-smoking patients with generalized chronic periodontitis who received NSPT between 2012 and 2014 were included. The Mantel-Haenszel chi-square test was used to assess the associations between initial mucogingival parameters and initial clinical parameters on the buccal aspect, and the associations between initial mucogingival parameters and outcome clinical parameters on the buccal aspect of the sites with severe periodontal destruction. The generalized liner model was used to evaluate the contribution of initial clinical parameters to the outcome of NSPT.

RESULTS: KM ≥ 3 mm was associated with greater probing pocket depth (PD), less gingival recession (REC), and less clinical attachment level (CAL), and AG < 1 mm was associated with greater PD, REC, and CAL before NSPT. At the sites with severe periodontal destruction, KM ≥ 3 mm was associated with greater PD reduction (0.25 ± 0.08 mm) and CAL gain (0.25 ± 0.09 mm), and AG < 1 mm was associated with greater CAL gain (0.15 ± 0.08 mm) after NSPT. Initial PD ≥ 7 mm and non-molar teeth showed greater contribution to the outcome of NSPT.

CONCLUSION: Less AG (<1 mm) was associated with greater periodontal destruction at baseline. At the sites with severe periodontal destruction, greater KM (≥3 mm) and less AG (<1 mm) resulted in better outcomes of NSPT.