Trullenque-Eriksson A, Tomasi C, Petzold M, Berglundh T, Derks J. Furcation involvement and tooth loss - A registry-based retrospective cohort study. J Clin Periodontol 2022; DOI: 10.1111/jcpe.13754. Online ahead of print.

Furcation status had a clinically relevant impact on the risk for molar loss. Following first detection of deep furcation involvement, the decline in molar survival was minor.

This retrospective cohort study evaluated the impact of furcation status on the risk for molar loss. Subjects with and without furcation involvement (FI) in 2010/11 were identified in a nationwide registry in Sweden (381,450 subjects; 2,374,883 molars). Data on dental and periodontal status were extracted for the subsequent ten-year period. Impact of FI (at baseline or follow-up) on molar loss/extraction was evaluated through multilevel logistic regression and survival analyses. FI had a significant impact on molar loss. FI degree 2 and 3 resulted in adjusted risk ratios of 1.67 and 3.30, respectively. Following first detection of deep FI (degree 2-3), estimated survival decreased by 4% at five years and 8% at ten years. In addition to FI, endodontic status and probing depth were relevant risk factors for molar loss.