EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF ADVANCED PERIODONTAL THERAPIES ON ORAL HEALTH OUTCOMES AMONG PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC PERIODONTAL DISEASES

Abstract

Background: Chronic periodontitis is a prevalent inflammatory disease leading to progressive destruction of the tooth-supporting structures and deterioration in oral health-related quality of life. Advances in periodontal therapy, including regenerative and adjunctive modalities, have broadened treatment options, yet comparative data from real-world settings remain limited.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of modern periodontal treatments in improving clinical outcomes and preventing disease progression among patients with chronic periodontitis in a tertiary care setting in Lahore, Pakistan.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted over 12 months, analyzing records of 200 patients with moderate to severe chronic periodontitis. Patients were categorized into three treatment groups: non-surgical therapy, laser/guided biofilm therapy, and regenerative/surgical therapy. Primary outcome measures included plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), bleeding on probing (BOP), probing pocket depth (PPD), and clinical attachment level (CAL). Secondary outcomes assessed oral health-related quality of life using the OHIP-14 questionnaire. Data were analyzed using paired t-tests, ANOVA, and Pearson’s correlation, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant.

Results: Significant improvements were observed in all clinical parameters after 12 months (p < 0.001). Mean PPD and CAL reductions were 2.49 mm and 2.11 mm, respectively. Regenerative therapy demonstrated the greatest PPD reduction (2.71 mm) and OHIP-14 improvement (4.5 points), followed by laser therapy (2.43 mm and 3.9 points) and non-surgical therapy (1.89 mm and 2.7 points). Strong inverse correlations were found between clinical improvements and quality-of-life scores (r = -0.68, p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Advanced periodontal therapies significantly enhance clinical and patient-centered outcomes. Regenerative and adjunctive modalities offer superior benefits over conventional approaches, supporting their integration into comprehensive periodontal care strategies.