Outcomes of Nonsurgical Periodontal Therapy in Gingivitis and Periodontitis Patients Treated by Senior Dental Students.

Objectives: This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of nonsurgical periodontal therapy performed by senior dental students.

Methods: Electronic records of patients treated by senior dental students at the comprehensive care clinic in King Abdulaziz University Dental Hospital were reviewed retrospectively. Patients diagnosed with gingivitis or periodontitis who had undergone at least one session of scaling and root planing were included in this study. The following periodontal parameters were assessed: BOP, PI, PD and number of residual pockets.

Results: A total of 618 patients were included in this study (60.2% females and 39.8% males). BOP reduced from a median of 40% (IQR: 26.0%-62.0%) at baseline to 13% (IQR: 9.0%-20.3%) at re-evaluation in the gingivitis group (p < 0.0005). Similarly, a significant reduction in BOP, from 45% (IQR: 28.0%-64.3%) at baseline to 14% (IQR: 9.0%-21.5%) after phase I therapy, was observed in the periodontitis group (p > 0.001). In both groups, 31%-32% of patients had BOP < 10 at re-evaluation. PD of ≥ 5 mm was observed in 50.8% of patients with periodontitis at baseline; however, 38% of these patients had no residual pockets at re-evaluation.

Conclusion: NSPT performed by senior dental students was effective in improving the periodontal status of the patients. Both gingivitis and periodontitis patients showed significant improvement in BOP and PI. Approximately, 32% of patients showed a reduction in BOP suggestive of a bleeding score associated with periodontal health. Moreover, patients diagnosed with periodontitis exhibited a significant reduction in the number of sites with deep probing (≥ 5).