Patient compliance with supportive periodontal therapy

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the compliance to maintenance schedules recommended supportive periodontal therapy(SPT) and to determine differences in the characteristics of compliant and non-compliant patients. Methods: 414 patients commencing SPT after active periodontal treatment from 2003 to 2005 were included in this study. Based on their compliance with the suggested maintenance schedule, patients were classified as compliant and non-compliant groups. Also patients classified by gender, age, degree of alveolar bone loss and treatment rendered. The association between compliance and patient characteristics was assessed by odds ratio in logistic regression analyses. Results: Only 47% of the initial patient was found to be compliant at the end of August 2008 and 20.8% patients were lost in the first year of SPT. There were significant differences between compliant and non-compliant regard to age, degree of alveolar bone loss and treatment rendered. Conclusions: In conclusion, compliance with SPT generally poor and patients who were older, treated surgical therapy and with mild alveolar bone loss are more compliant to SPT. (J Korean Acad Periodontol 2009;39:193-198)