Tooth mobility and periodontal therapy

Data collected as part of an 8-year longitudinal study on periodontal therapy involving 82 patients and 1974 teeth were analyzed to determine if tooth mobility influenced the result of treatment. For each patient, pocket depth, attachment level and tooth mobility were scored clinically at the initial appointment, and once a year for 8 years following periodontal therapy. The treatment consisted of scaling, oral hygiene instruction, occlusal adjustment, periodontal surgery (curettage, modified Widman or pocket elimination), followed by recall prophylaxes every 3 months. Tooth mobility data on a scale of 0--3 were related to changes in attachment levels for three grades of severity of periodontal disease, based on initial pocket depth (1--3 mm, 4--6 mm, and 7 + mm). Mean patient attachment changes were calculated from teeth in the same severity category for each patient. The data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance and Scheffe's multiple comparison procedure to test the hypothesis of equal effects of tooth mobility on the results of the treatment for the three severity groups over 8 years. The results indicate that there is a statistically significant relationship between original tooth mobility and the change in level of attachment following treatment. Pockets of clinically mobile teeth do not respond as well to periodontal treatment as do those of firm teeth exhibiting the same initial disease severity.