Evaluación de la terapia mecánica periodontal en bolsas profundas: Respuesta clínica y bacteriológica Evaluation of periodontal mechanical therapy in deep pockets: Clinical and bacteriological response

Objectives: To evaluate the microbial composition and clinical parameters of periodontal pockets with probing depth ≥5 mm at baseline, 1 week, 3 and 12 months after scaling and root planning. Methods: Clinical parameters were measured and bacterial samples were collected from 44 sites in 11 patients with chronic periodontitis. By means of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) the presence of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa), Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), Treponema denticola (Td), Tannerella forsythia (Tf) and Prevotella intermedia (Pi) was estimated. The patients received mechanical periodontal therapy and were evaluated after 1 week, 3 months and 12 months. Results: After treatment, all clinical parameters (Plaque, Bleeding on Probing, Supuration, Probing Pocket Depth and Clinical Attachment Level) were significantly reduced, and the values obtained were maintained up to the 12 months that the study lasts. At baseline, the most prevalent species were Pg, present in 66% of the sites, Tf (55%) and Td (41%). The deepest sites were related to the association Tf-Td (6.8 mm) and Tf-Td-Pi (7 mm). The number of positive sites for Td, Tf and Pg was significantly reduced after therapy. Conclusions: Scaling and root planning improve significantly clinical parameters as well as reduce the prevalence of periodontal pathogens Pg, Td and Tf in deep periodontal pockets. The results obtained were maintained up to 12 months. No further clinical attachment loss was found in 86% of the sites at 3 months and 79% at 12 months. The sites where the treatment failed in removing pathogens developed at 12 months greater probing pocket depths. Rev. Clin. Periodoncia Implantol. Rehabil. Oral Vol. 5(3); 123-127, 2012.