Objectives: Whether patients comply with supportive periodontal treatment (SPT) seems to be influenced by the number of background factors such as beliefs about and attitudes to oral health as well as age and gender. The present study aims to investigate the relationship between a self-reported oral health questionnaire and compliance with SPT, and to determine prognostic factors for low-compliance with SPT. Methods: A total of 431 patients, 158 males and 273 females, aged 19 - 85 years, were studied. The patients had slight to moderate periodontitis and completed their active periodontal treatment without surgical treatment, to be followed by SPT. They filled out a questionnaire concerning dental health beliefs, oral health behavior and subjective symptoms prior to their periodontal treatment. Survival probabilities in SPT were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and compared between answers of each item in the questionnaire by Cox-Mantel test. Finally, a multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model was constructed including age and gender. Results: Although more than 90% of the patients had positive dental health beliefs before their periodontal treatment, the overall survival probabilities in SPT were only 52.7% after about 5 years. The patients with favorable oral health behavior had a higher tendency to continue SPT than they without. No significant differences were found in subjective symptoms with the degree of compliance. Cox regression model revealed that brushing on gingival margin, use of inter-dental brush or dental floss, use of fluoride toothpaste and intake of sugar containing beverage were significantly independent prognostic factors for low-compliance with SPT (P < 0.05; hazard ratios = 0.44, 0.46, 0.41 and 2.17, respectively). Conclusions: The results suggest that unfavorable oral health behavior may be related to low-compliance with SPT. Approaches with behavioral sciences may be essential for a successful SPT.

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Back to the 81st General Session of the International Association for Dental Research (June 25-28, 2003)

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