Annually and Cumulative Radiographic Alveolar Bone Loss Rates using Digital Scanning Image for the Periodontal Disease Groups before and after Periodontal Treatment

The aim of the present study was to assess the cumulative radiographic alveolar bone loss (CRABL) and yearly radiographic periodontal attachment loss (YRABL) of periodontal disease groups over 5 years or more. A total of 53 subjects, who had taken two sets of full-mouth standardized paralleling radiographs with separated periods of 5 years or more in Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital during 1981-2001, were collected for the past 20 years. The radiographic alveolar bone levels at mesial and distal aspects of teeth were assessed by measuring the distance between cemento-enamel junction and alveolar bone crest using an electronic digimatic caliper (EDC) under a 3.5X magnified radiographs. The results revealed that 1) patients with a periodic recall (3-4 times/yr.) showed a significantly lower loss rate than patients without periodic recalls; 2) mean CRPAL was highest in the generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAgP) group (5.52±3.27mm), then the chronic periodontitis (CP) group (4.82±3.47mm), and the localized aggressive periodontitis (LAgP) group (4.47±3.47mm) followed, and lowest in the periodontal healthy (PH) group (1.05±0.59mm); 3) mean YRPAL was the highest in the LAgP group (0.26±0.25mm/yr.), then the GAgP group (0.20±0.13 mm/yr.), and the CP group (0.12±0.09 mm/yr.) followed, and lowest in the periodontal healthy group (0.07±0.06 mm/yr.). It was concluded that: 1) sites with more advanced alveolar bone loss are more likely to undergo further breakdown; 2) patients with a periodic recall showed a significantly lower alveolar bone loss rate and bone gain, irrespective disease groups; 3) mean CPBLs was highest in the GAgP group; mean YRABLs was highest in the LAgP.