BMC Med Educ. 2025 Jul 31;25(1):1130. doi: 10.1186/s12909-025-07699-2.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to evaluate periodontal treatment success in patients treated by undergraduates. The findings shall be used to gain implications for future curriculum frameworks.
METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, the medical records of 107 patients (median age 58 years, 48% female) diagnosed with stage III periodontitis who were treated by students were analyzed. Anamnestic and periodontal clinical parameters (bleeding on probing (BOP%), periodontal pocket depths (PD), plaque control record (PCR) were extracted at baseline (T0), re-evaluation (T1, median 3mth), and last SPC visit (T2, median 47mth after T0). The primary outcome was assessing the relative proportion of patients achieving specific treatment endpoints at T1 (EP1 = BOP < 20% and EP2 = ≤ 4site with PD ≥ 5 mm), secondary outcomes included identification of factors influencing these specific endpoints at T1 and T2.
RESULTS: All parameters (BOP, PD, PCR) improved statistically significantly during step 1, 2 and 4 of periodontal therapy. In contrast, a worsening of PCR between T1 and T2 (p = 0.049) was observed. Achieving EP1 at T1 was achieved by 49% of al patients. It was positively affected by being female and negatively by T0 BOP (OR3.90, p = 0.008, OR0.95, p < 0.001), EP2 at T1 was achieved by 29% of all patients and influenced by the number of PD ≥ 6 mm at T0 (OR0.98, p < 0.001). At T2 the relative proportion of patients dropped to 37%(EP1) and 26%(EP2), with EP1 significantly affected by plaque control at T2 (OR0.96, p = 0.003) and EP2 significantly affected by PD ≥ 6 mm at T1 (OR0.69, p < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: Non-surgical therapy performed by students significantly improves periodontal outcomes in Stage III periodontitis. Particularly residual pockets and plaque seemed to affect unmet treatment targets.
PMID:40739220 | DOI:10.1186/s12909-025-07699-2
