Student-performed periodontal therapy: retrospective cohort study on outcomes and related recommendations for enhancing undergraduate periodontal education.

BACKGROUND

The aim of the study was to evaluate periodontal treatment success in patients treated by undergraduates. The findings shall be used to gain implications for future curriculum frameworks.

METHODS

In this retrospective cohort study, the medical records of 107 patients (median age 58 years, 48% female) diagnosed with stage III periodontitis who were treated by students were analyzed. Anamnestic and periodontal clinical parameters (bleeding on probing (BOP%), periodontal pocket depths (PD), plaque control record (PCR) were extracted at baseline (T0), re-evaluation (T1, median 3mth), and last SPC visit (T2, median 47mth after T0). The primary outcome was assessing the relative proportion of patients achieving specific treatment endpoints at T1 (EP1 = BOP < 20% and EP2 = ≤ 4site with PD ≥ 5 mm), secondary outcomes included identification of factors influencing these specific endpoints at T1 and T2.

RESULTS

All parameters (BOP, PD, PCR) improved statistically significantly during step 1, 2 and 4 of periodontal therapy. In contrast, a worsening of PCR between T1 and T2 (p = 0.049) was observed. Achieving EP1 at T1 was achieved by 49% of al patients. It was positively affected by being female and negatively by T0 BOP (OR3.90, p = 0.008, OR0.95, p < 0.001), EP2 at T1 was achieved by 29% of all patients and influenced by the number of PD ≥ 6 mm at T0 (OR0.98, p < 0.001). At T2 the relative proportion of patients dropped to 37%(EP1) and 26%(EP2), with EP1 significantly affected by plaque control at T2 (OR0.96, p = 0.003) and EP2 significantly affected by PD ≥ 6 mm at T1 (OR0.69, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Non-surgical therapy performed by students significantly improves periodontal outcomes in Stage III periodontitis. Particularly residual pockets and plaque seemed to affect unmet treatment targets.