Evaluation of a periodontal risk assessment model in subjects with severe periodontitis. A 5-year retrospective study

The aim of this study was to evaluate a well-established periodontal risk assessment tool in patients with severe periodontitis included in a supportive periodontal treatment (SPT) program. In total 20 individuals were included in the analysis. All subjects were randomly selected after successful periodontal treatment and at least 5 years SPT. Clinical and radiographic measurements were collected from patient records and analyzed according to the periodontal risk assessment model. Using the periodontal risk assessment model all subjects were classified as low, moderate, or high-risk patients. According to the model 7 patients were classified as moderate risk patients and 13 as high-risk patients. When comparing all the patients using only bleeding on probing (BoP) mean prevalence of 20% as a cut-off point, 15 patients were categorised as having low-moderate risk for periodontitis progression and 5 subjects as having high-risk for disease progression. The periodontal risk assessment model seems to overestimate the risk for disease progression. However the model is a suitable tool to visualize for both the clinician and the patient different variables of importance for periodontal health. The model is also beneficial to show how periodontal treatment can reduce further risk for periodontal disease.