Influence on the patient’s oral hygiene depending on the treatment performed by either one or different pre-graduate practitioners — a randomized, controlled, clinical short-term trial

Abstract

Objectives Plaque control by improved domestic oral hygiene is essential in periodontal treatment. However, changing treatment providers may interfere with building a dentist-patient relationship and in turn affect treatment success. The aim of this randomized, controlled, prospective short-term study was to determine the influence of either one or four different pre-graduate practitioners on patients’ oral hygiene parameters during active periodontal therapy. Material and Methods A total of 55 patients with periodontitis were allocated to two groups. Within the group “continuous treatment” (CT, n = 27), each patient was treated by one individual practitioner over the treatment period. For patients of the group “discontinuous treatment” (DT, n = 28), treatment in each session was performed by a different practitioner. Periodontal parameters (BOP, PBI, and PCR) were assessed at two timepoints: T1 (baseline) and T2 (end of active therapy). Results With CT, the PBI improved in 93% of the patients, compared to 71% with DT (p = 0.048). T1-T2 intragroup analysis showed a statistically significant improvement of all observed clinical parameters with no differences in ∆PBI, ∆BOP, and ∆PCR. Spearman’s correlation analysis revealed a weak correlation between PCR and BOP of CT only. Conclusions In the present study, improvement of all parameters was comparable between the groups. PBI, as a parameter displaying patient’s domestic plaque control compliance, improved in more patients from CT than DT. This is possibly indicating an advantage of continuous treatment by one single practitioner. Clinical relevance Treatment by either a single practitioner or by multiple, constantly changing practitioners might influence patients’ compliance to modify their behaviour when medically necessary.

Implant-supported crowns on maxillary laterals and canines—a long-term follow-up of aesthetics and function

“…In addition, greater pocket depth and more BoP was found in the ISC-C group at T1 compared with T0, while no differences were seen among the ISC-L patients. Plaque presence did not differ between the two groups; however, one ISC plaque recording does not reflect the patient’s long-term oral hygiene [ 28 ]. Nevertheless, greater pocket depths and more BoP among patients with ISC-C show that these teeth are more difficult to clean.…”