Association Between Periodontal Status and the Interrupted Supportive Periodontal Therapy During the COVID-19 Pandemic

This cross-sectional observational study compared the clinical periodontal status and oral health-related quality of life between patients who continued regular supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) visits during the COVID-19 pandemic and those who experienced a prolonged interruption of SPT. The study included patients who had completed active periodontal therapy and were enrolled in an SPT program, divided into a non-compliant group with prolonged SPT interruption and a compliant group with regular SPT. Clinical periodontal parameters including plaque index, bleeding on probing, probing depth, gingival recession, clinical attachment level, and distribution of probing depths were assessed. Oral health-related quality of life was evaluated using the OHIP-14 questionnaire.

Inclusion Criteria: * a minimum of 20 teeth in the oral cavity (third molars excluded) * diagnosed stage III or IV periodontitis according to the 2017 classification * completed active periodontal therapy two years before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic * enrollment in a supportive periodontal therapy program Exclusion Criteria: * no active periodontal therapy performed before the onset of the pandemic * use of systemic antibiotics in the last 6 months * pregnancy * breastfeeding * alcohol or drugs abuse