Clinical evaluation of partial- and full-mouth scaling in the treatment of chronic periodontitis

A selection of abstracts of clinically relevant papers from other journals. The abstracts on this page have been chosen and edited by Dr Trevor Watts.

Abstract

One-visit scaling and root planing had an outcome similar to the same treatment in 2 visits.

Main

Knöfler GU, Purschwitz RE et al. J Periodontol 2007; 78: 2135–2142

Some researchers have advocated full mouth (FM) one-visit scaling and root planing (SRP) as a way of avoiding premature re-infection of pockets. In this study, 20 subjects with chronic adult periodontitis were treated with FMSRP in 1 visit, and 17 at 2 visits. During the procedure, saline irrigation was performed. After the 1-visit procedure, subjects rinsed with 0.2% chlorhexidine (CHX) for 1 wk, 12-hourly. After the 2-visit procedure, subjects brushed their tongues and rinsed with CHX for 2 weeks 12-hourly.

In the 1-visit group, mean PD reduced from 3.2 to 2.9 mm after 12 months, and in the 2-visit group, from 3.0 to 2.7. Respective mean changes (mm) for clinical attachment level were 3.5 to 3.2 and 3.2 to 2.9, and for BOP, from 39% to 16%, and 40% to 17%. The authors conclude that the 1 visit treatment is not superior in outcome to the traditional method. This implies that re-infection of pockets is not a problem.