Prevalence of horizontal attachment loss in extracted teeth.

OBJECTIVE

Probing attachment level provides useful information on patterns of destruction of the periodontium. It is difficult to detect complex attachment loss in clinics. The purpose of this study was to estimate prevalence of vertical and horizontal attachment loss in extracted teeth.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

We collected 10,212 extracted teeth from 130 dentists in Japan. After staining of periodontal membrane with erythrosine, linear loss of vertical and horizontal attachment was measured using a digital caliper.

RESULTS

Mean vertical attachment loss varied from 5.3 to 8.6 mm. Incisors had severe attachment loss at mesial sites. Specific local attachment loss at palatal sites was observed in maxillary premolars and molars as well as in mandibular canines and premolars. Horizontal attachment loss was observed in 23% of the teeth. Frequency of horizontal attachment loss of > or = 2.1 mm was 6.4%.

CONCLUSION

Severe attachment loss was observed on the palatal side of maxillary premolars. More than 1/3 of the maxillary first molars showed horizontal attachment loss. It may be impossible to debride 6.4% of teeth in cases of severe periodontitis because horizontal attachment loss may be deeper than the curette blade length.