Stability of Treated Angular and Horizontal Bony Defects: A Retrospective Radiographic Evaluation in a Private Periodontal Practice

Abstract

Based on a defining criterion of 10%, the angular and horizontal sites were clinically equivalent with respect to the magnitude of osseous resorption that occurred after periodontal surgery and maintenance.

Radiographic alveolar bone morphology and progressive periodontitis

“…The findings of this prospective study differ from those of two previous retrospective case‐control studies which reported no statistically significant differences in progressive bone loss between angular and horizontal bony sites in treated periodontitis patients . Both of these previous studies compared radiographic crestal alveolar bone levels on non‐standardized serial radiographs taken either prior to or immediately after periodontal therapy, and up to 16 years post‐treatment.…”

“…The findings of this prospective study differ from those of two previous retrospective case-control studies which reported no statistically significant differences in progressive bone loss between angular and horizontal bony sites in treated periodontitis patients. 6,7 Both of these previous studies compared radiographic crestal alveolar bone levels on non-standardized serial radiographs taken either prior to 7 or immediately after 6 periodontal therapy, and up to 16 years post-treatment. In contrast, the present study examined the marginal alveolar bone morphology established at periodontal sites after at least 1 year post-treatment, since pre-treatment angular lesions often exhibit resolution over the first 6 to 8 months post-treatment and may not persist long term.…”

“…Untreated angular bony lesions show a higher risk of further loss of alveolar bone than untreated defects having a horizontal bone morphology . No similar risk difference has been reported to date for angular and horizontal bony defects of treated periodontal sites …”

“…5 No similar risk difference has been reported to date for angular and horizontal bony defects of treated periodontal sites. 6,7 The presence or absence of radiographic lamina dura at the alveolar crest has been used as a diagnostic marker for periodontal breakdown in humans 8 and dogs. 9 In a 36-month prospective study of 51 adults treated for periodontitis, Rams et al 10 found the baseline presence of radiographic crestal alveolar lamina dura to be positively associated with periodontal clinical stability, and negatively associated with periodontitis recurrence.…”

Validation of a dental image‐analyzer tool to measure the radiographic defect angle of the intrabony defect in periodontitis patients

“…Periodontitis is an infection of the periodontium that results in the loss of connective tissue attachment and alveolar bone (1). It is a multifactorial disease and, in most cases, shows a chronic progression (2).…”