Tooth loss during supportive periodontal care: A prospective study

Abstract Aim To assess periodontal stability and the association between tooth‐ and patient‐related factors and tooth loss during supportive periodontal care (SPC). Materials and Methods A prospective observational study was carried out on previously treated periodontitis patients followed up for 5 years in SPC. The risk profile (low, moderate, high) of each patient based on periodontal risk assessment (PRA) scoring at baseline was evaluated, and tooth loss rates were analysed. Results Two hundred patients were included in the study, and 143 had 5‐year follow‐up data available for analysis. The overall annual tooth loss per patient was 0.07 ± 0.14 teeth/patient/year. Older age, smoking, staging and grading were associated with increased tooth loss rates. Most patients whose teeth were extracted belonged to the PRA high‐risk group. Both PRA and a tooth prognosis system used at baseline showed high negative predictive value but low positive predictive value for tooth loss during SPC. Conclusions Overall, the tooth loss rate of periodontitis patients in this prospective cohort study under SPC in private practice was low. Both tooth‐based and patient‐based prognostic systems can identify high‐risk cases, but their positive predictive value should be improved.