PURPOSE: Because periodontal therapies, as shown in numerous studies, are long-term treatments, the continuous and active cooperation of the patient is indispensable. This study focused on the compliance of a large group of patients over a longer period of time and aimed to uncover possible factors affecting compliance. The possible correlation between the patient's gender and attitudes toward oral hygiene was included. Measures of the success of systematic periodontal treatment was the basis of evaluation. METHODS: On the basis of treatment documentation covering 500 periodontic patients at a University Dental Clinic, over a period of 25 years, patient compliance was statistically determined, particularly in the recall phase, and the success of treatment was related to a number of study parameters. RESULTS: Interruption of treatment was recorded in 20% of the cases in the preoperative phase and in 46.4% in the recall phase. Regarding compliance, greater interest and more regular participation on the part of women was observed. The results demonstrate that compliance in domestic oral hygiene--as measured by the pre- and post-therapeutic approximal plaques-index-value--was improved by 26%. Comparing the pre- and the post-therapeutic measurements of the mean probing depths, there was a mean improvement of 0.31 mm. CONCLUSIONS: Patient compliance can clearly be improved, first by providing more information about the development and consequences of periodontal diseases and secondly by institution of a recall system supported by electronic data processing.
PURPOSE: Because periodontal therapies, as shown in numerous studies, are long-term treatments, the continuous and active cooperation of the patient is indispensable. This study focused on the compliance of a large group of patients over a longer period of time and aimed to uncover possible factors affecting compliance. The possible correlation between the patient's gender and attitudes toward oral hygiene was included. Measures of the success of systematic periodontal treatment was the basis of evaluation. METHODS: On the basis of treatment documentation covering 500 periodontic patients at a University Dental Clinic, over a period of 25 years, patient compliance was statistically determined, particularly in the recall phase, and the success of treatment was related to a number of study parameters. RESULTS: Interruption of treatment was recorded in 20% of the cases in the preoperative phase and in 46.4% in the recall phase. Regarding compliance, greater interest and more regular participation on the part of women was observed. The results demonstrate that compliance in domestic oral hygiene--as measured by the pre- and post-therapeutic approximal plaques-index-value--was improved by 26%. Comparing the pre- and the post-therapeutic measurements of the mean probing depths, there was a mean improvement of 0.31 mm. CONCLUSIONS:Patient compliance can clearly be improved, first by providing more information about the development and consequences of periodontal diseases and secondly by institution of a recall system supported by electronic data processing.