Non-surgical treatment of a chronic periodontitis patient with the chief complaint of tooth mobility

A 53-year-old male with a noncontributory medical history was referred to our hospital in April 2003 with the chief complaint of mobility of the maxillary left second molar tooth. The patient was diagnosed as having generalized severe chronic periodontitis with exfoliation, pathologic migration of the maxillary anterior and premolar teeth by secondary occlusal trauma, and also posterior bite collapse. Following completion of the initial periodontal therapy by both periodontists and dental hygienists, the progression of the periodontal disease was dramatically inhibited and supportive periodontal therapy was started without periodontal surgery. The number of teeth present, the mean clinical attachment level, the probing depth (PD), sites with a PD of more than 4 mm or 7mm, and sites with bleeding on probing were improved and maintained from 18 teeth, 5.7mm, 4.7mm, 56 sites (51.9%), 32 sites (29.6%) and 67 sites (62.0%), respectively, before the treatment, to 17 teeth, 4.4mm, 2.9mm, 12 sites (11.8%), 0 and 20 sites (19.6%), respectively, in February of 2009. The periodontal condition was stable and fulfilled the patient's desire to keep his teeth healthy for about 6 years from the initial visit without periodontal surgery. Nihon Shishubyo Gakkai Kaishi (J Jpn Soc Periodontol) 51(4) : 326-333, 2009.