Adherence to long-term supportive periodontal therapy in groups with different periodontal risk profiles.

Aim: To examine changes of the periodontal risk assessment (PRA) of patients during long-term supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) and to examine the adherence to recommended visit intervals.

Material And Methods: Retrospective data from 372 SPT patients were evaluated before and after active periodontal therapy (APT) and at least 5 years later. After APT and regularly during SPT, PRA was performed for all included patients (low-risk/moderate-risk/high-risk profile) and they were advised to adhere to 3/6-/or 12-month intervals accordingly. The adherence (fully/partially/insufficiently/non-adherent) to SPT intervals was assessed retrospectively.

Results: Initially, 38 patients had a low-risk, 217 a moderate-risk and 94 a high-risk profile. Five years after APT, 55.3% of the low-risk, 71.9% of the moderate-risk and 54.3% of the high-risk patients had not changed their initial risk. 19.5% of the moderate-risk group shifted to "high-risk" and 8.6% to "low-risk". 66% of low-risk, 34% of moderate-risk and 13% of high-risk patients fully adhered to SPT. The portion of non-adherent patients was the highest within the high-risk group (18%-43%). The level of adherence was associated with number of lost teeth and mean PPD (p < .05).

Conclusions: Risk profiles can change during SPT. A high level of adherence to SPT intervals based on PRA positively influences the periodontal status.