Discrepancy of Clinical Parameters between the First and Second Molars Can Help to Differentiate Subjects with Aggressive Periodontitis from Chronic Periodontitis: a Cross-sectional Study Based on a Large Chinese Population.

OBJECTIVE

To explore associations between mean discrepancy values for the first and second molars (MDVFSs) and generalised aggressive periodontitis (GAgP) using hospital-based periodontal examination records from a large Chinese population.

METHODS

Data from consecutive patients diagnosed as having chronic periodontitis (CP, n = 51,849) and GAgP (n = 2,706) were included. Patient ages, gender, smoking status, mean full-mouth probing depth (PD), and mean full-mouth attachment loss (AL), as well as MDVFSs for PD and AL, were extracted. Multivariate linear regression was used to test associations between MDVFSs and GAgP.

RESULTS

After multivariate risk adjustment for potential confounding factors (age, smoking status, and mean PD and AL), the MDVFSs for PD (OR = 2.20, 95%CI: 2.04 to 2.38, P < 0.001) and AL (OR = 1.51, 95CI%: 1.44 to 1.59, P < 0.001) were significantly associated with GAgP. The probability of GAgP was associated with MDVFS for PD falling between 0 mm and 2.5 mm (OR = 4.55, 95%CI: 4.01 to 5.17) and MDVFS for AL falling between 0 mm and 3.5 mm (OR = 2.01, 95%CI: 1.86 to 2.16, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

This study revealed associations between MDVFSs and GAgP, demonstrating that MDVFSs can serve as promising auxiliary references for the differential diagnosis between CP and GAgP.