EVALUATION OF FOUR MODALITIES OF PERIODONTAL THERAPY

The study's purpose is to longitudinally evaluate four modalities
of periodontal, therapy. Eighty-two human periodontal patients
were originally treated with four different types of periodontal
therapy in a split mouth design. The therapies were 1) coronal
scaling and polish, 2) root planing, 3) modified Widman surgery,
and 4) flap surgery with ostectomy to achieve positive osseous
architecture. Presently seventy-four patients have completed two
to four years of maintenance therapy. They are presently receiving
examinations to ascertain their periodontal stability and mainte-
nance care at three month intervals. Data are gathered documenting
all clinical variables at yearly intervals. We propose to continue
monitoring these patients and thereby to continue evaluating and
comparing the longitudinal effects of the four periodontal therapy
modalities. The clinical variables to be evaluated and compared
are 1) probing depth, 2) probing attachment level, 3) incidence of
probing attachment loss, 4) presence of gingival bleeding, 5)
presence of gingival suppuration, 6) presence of supragingival
plaque, 7) tooth mobility, 8) horizontal probing attachment level
in furcations, and 9) furcation's open/closed status. Comparison
of the response to therapy for two age groups will also be
completed (<38 yrs. and > 39 year olds).