THERAPY-RESISTANT PERIODONTITIS .1. CLINICAL AND TREATMENT CHARACTERISTICS

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical criteria for classi fication of 2 different patient groups. From retrospective comparisons of pocket probing depth (PPD) charts, we classified 22 patients as ei ther non-responding or responding to periodontal treatment. The non-re sponding patient group, in comparison with the responding patient grou p, showed a profile over time of less PPD reduction in response to per iodontal treatment. Information registered in each patient's file rega rding clinical periodontal conditions, as well as treatment procedure characteristics, was gathered. Bivariate analyses were performed. 3 cl inical variables (frequency of mean PPD greater than or equal to 6 mm during the treatment period; at final registration; and the mobility s core at the final registration) indicated that 2 separate patient grou ps had been identified. Although the patient groups exhibited advanced periodontitis at the beginning of treatment, both groups at the end o f treatment had lost very few (1-2) teeth, probably as a result of reg ular supportive treatment. The characteristics of the selected clinica l criteria warrant the use of these 2 patient groups in further analys is of the relation of psychosocial stress and microbiological characte ristics of therapy-resistant periodontitis.