Periodontal Outcomes After Sanative Therapy

Periodontal Diseases Clinical Trial

Official title: Retrospective Study of Periodontal Outcomes After Sanative Therapy in Patients With or Without Salivary Gland Hypofunction

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

Salivary gland hypofunction, or dry mouth, is a damaging oral condition that affects salivary gland production. Absence of saliva causes bad breath, dental decay, increased plaque accumulation, dry lips, mouth sores, and the inability to retain dentures or removable protheses. This study will determine if patients with dry mouth have different periodontal health than patients without dry mouth. Additionally, this study will examine if patients who have their periodontal maintenance appointments solely at a periodontal speciality clinic have different periodontal health than patients who alternate their appointments between a specialty office and their general dental office.

Clinical Trial Description

Salivary gland hypofunction, or dry mouth, is a damaging oral condition that affects the function and flow rate of saliva. Low saliva rates can range from mild self-reported symptoms and discomfort to significant oral diseases. Saliva is essential in preventing irritation and friction of mucosal surfaces. Progressively dry mouth can cause oral and bodily conditions that can affect an individuals quality of life and daily tasks, such as eating and avoiding social situations. Specifically, dry mouth is a risk factor for periodontal disease, a chronic oral inflammation of tissues and ligaments that support the tooth's structure and if untreated, will ultimately lead to tooth loss. In Canada, the first line of defense against periodontal disease is non-surgical sanative therapy (ST). Participants in this study have been attending a periodontal specialty clinic for routine periodontal maintenance appointments for at least 1 to 5 years following their initial scaling and root planing. Salivary flow rate will be measured to determine the level of dry mouth. At the regular maintenance appointment, clinical measures will be evaluated (probing depth, bleeding on probing, plaque index, gingival index, thickness of tissues, mobility, and furcations). Patients will also complete a dry mouth questionnaire to determine if dry mouth influences the day to day life of a patient, and the patient's Registered Dental Hygienist will complete a short questionnaire outlining oral symptoms of dry mouth. Additionally, the investigators aim to see if a patient who has periodontal maintenance appointments at a specialty office has different clinical outcomes than a patient who alternates these appointments between a specialty office and a general dental office. Overall, the investigators will determine if thorough periodontal maintenance appointments are efficient in preventing periodontal disease in patients with dry mouth. ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Dry Mouth
• Periodontal Diseases
• Periodontal Pocket
• Xerostomia

• NCT number: NCT03649789
• Study type: Observational
• Source: Brock University
• Status: Completed
• Start date: August 1, 2018
• Completion date: May 1, 2019