TREATMENT MODALITIES AND ANTIBIOTIC PRESCRIPTION PATTERN OF AGGRESSIVE PERIODONTITIS IN A TEACHING DENTAL CLINIC SETTING

Abstract

Periodontal infection can manifest itself in many different clinical presentations. The aggressive form of this disease is frequently seen in the younger patient population referred for treatment to the Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry (TUKSD). This study was done to assess the demographics of aggressive periodontitis cases and the types of periodontal treatment methods provided to these patients, antibiotic prescription patterns and compliance with treatment. A chart review was conducted to identify cases of aggressive periodontitis in patients <30 years of age referred for treatment at the Graduate Periodontology and Oral Implantology Clinic, TUKSD. The diagnosis of aggressive periodontitis was validated by presence of characteristic radiographic bone loss at permanent incisors and molars. Exclusion criteria were deficient radiographs, and a medical history of systemic diseases that compromise the immune response. Twenty-two aggressive periodontitis cases were identified among 300 charts surveyed. All patients were 12-26 years old. The patient sample was comprised mainly of African American race-ethnicity, with no predominance of a sex group. Initial treatment with scaling and root planing, was done in 64% of cases with 36% dropout before treatment. Microbial plaque testing was done in 46% of cases, and 59% received systemic antibiotics. A combination antibiotic therapy regimen was often used in combination with nonsurgical periodontal therapy. Most patients did not present for treatment beyond the non-surgical phase, and some even before the treatment started. Because periodontal non-surgical treatment of aggressive periodontitis cases in the pre-doctoral clinic takes relatively long time, it is recommended that the treatment of these cases be expedited by referring the patients to the graduate clinic for all periodontal treatment including the initial phase.