Change in tooth mobility following non‐surgical periodontal therapy: A retrospective cohort study of clinical outcomes

Abstract Background To evaluate the change in clinical tooth mobility following scaling and root planing (SRP) and to identify baseline factors predictive of the 12‐month outcome. Methods This retrospective cohort study utilized de‐identified electronic health records from the BigMouth Dental Data Repository. The final cohort consisted of 152 patients, contributing 489 teeth with baseline mobility of Class 1, 2, or 3. The primary outcome was the change in mobility class at 12 months. A multilevel cumulative link model (ordinal logistic regression) was used to determine the association between baseline factors (including splinting status) and the 12‐month mobility outcome. Results Scaling and root planing resulted in a substantial reduction in tooth mobility. At 12 months, 71.2% of teeth with initial Class 1 mobility and 42.2% of teeth with initial Class 2 mobility became clinically stable (Class 0). The multilevel regression analysis identified several factors significantly associated with higher odds of a less favorable outcome: higher initial mobility, deeper probing depths, furcation involvement, smoking, and diabetes ( p < 0.05). The presence of a splint/stabilization was significantly associated with higher odds of a more favorable mobility outcome (OR = 2.15, p < 0.01). Conclusions Within the limitations of this retrospective study, SRP appears effective in reducing tooth mobility within 1 year. The identified predictors can help clinicians to manage patient's expectations and to highlight cases that may require more intensive therapy or monitoring. Plain language summary Severe gum disease can cause teeth to become loose, putting them at risk of being lost. This study investigated whether a common “deep cleaning” procedure (non‐surgical periodontal therapy) could help to stabilize these loose teeth. We analyzed the de‐identified dental records of 152 patients from eight U.S. university clinics, tracking the outcomes of 489 loose teeth for 1 year after treatment. Our results showed that the deep cleaning was very successful. Most teeth, even those that were moderately or severely loose, became significantly firmer. For example, more than 70% of slightly loose teeth became completely stable again. We also identified factors that made a successful outcome less likely, including smoking, diabetes, having more severe gum disease, or having a very loose tooth to begin with. This research provides evidence that this routine therapy is effective in tightening loose teeth, which can help dentists and patients to make better‐informed decisions about saving teeth and maintaining oral health.