Short Term Effects of Non-Surgical Periodontal Treatment on the Clinical Parameters of Periodontal Diseases among Attendees of a Periodontology Clinic in Nigeria

Abstract

Objective of the study was to determine the short term effects of non-surgical periodontal treatment on the clinical parameters of periodontal diseases among attendees of a periodontology clinic in Benin City, Nigeria. This interventional study was carried out among patients attending the periodontology clinic of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Edo state, Nigeria. Data collection was through a pre-tested interview–administered questionnaire and periodontal examination. Periodontal diseases were assessed using Gingival Index (GI) and periodontal probing depth measurement with Williams’ periodontal probe. Demographic characteristics, pattern of dental clinic attendance and previous treatment pattern were elicited using a pre-tested interview–administered questionnaire. Various forms of non-surgical periodontal treatment were carried out as required by the study participants. The periodontal examination and data collection were again carried out for the participants 3 months after intervention. Data collected were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 23 and test for significance was done using chi-square statistics or Fisher’s exact test. All (100%) the study participants had non-surgical periodontal treatment intervention with 100% from the chronic gingivitis group of periodontal diseases having scaling and polishing and oral hygiene instruction  and 100% from the chronic  periodontitis group of periodontal diseases having scaling and polishing, oral hygiene instruction and root planning. More than half (52.5%) of the participants had mild gingival inflammation and this was higher among the chronic gingivitis group (80.0%) than chronic periodontitis group (25.0%) of periodontal diseases participants before non-surgical periodontal treatment intervention.  A total of 30.0% of the participants had periodontal probing depth of 4 mm with 60.0% being from the chronic periodontitis group of periodontal diseases and 0.0% being from the chronic gingivitis group of periodontal diseases before non-surgical periodontal treatment intervention. A total of 100.0% of the participants had mild gingival inflammation with 100.0% being from the chronic gingivitis group of periodontal diseases and 100.0% being from the chronic periodontitis group of periodontal diseases after non-surgical periodontal treatment intervention. A total of 100.0% of the participants had periodontal probing depth of less than 3 mm with 100.0% being from the chronic gingivitis group of periodontal diseases and 100.0% being from the chronic periodontitis group of periodontal diseases after non-surgical periodontal treatment intervention. The mean pocket depths among the chronic periodontal group of periodontal diseases participants before and after non-surgical periodontal treatment intervention were 4.40 and 1.05 respectively. A significant reduction in the clinical parameters of periodontal diseases with non-surgical periodontal treatment intervention was seen among attendees of a periodontology clinic in Nigeria. This necessitates the need for early intervention in patients with periodontal diseases to control and prevent the clinical progression to a more advance stage of the disease.  This study is also recommended among a larger number of participants.