Comparison of Radiographic Measurement and Clinical Parameters of Periodontal Condition on Premolars and Molars

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between parameters frequently used in daily practice measuring pocket depth(P.D) and attachment loss(A.L) by clinical manual probe an4 bone level by radiographic measurement (Rx.B.L.). A total of 1,422 teeth, 653 premolars and 769 molars(excluding third molars) from 130 patients were measured. Clinical measurements were scored the menial and distal site of premolar and the mesial, middle and distal site of molar recording the deepest site from the buccal and lingual. Probing pocket depth was measured the distance from the gingival margin to the base of the pocket and probing attachment loss was measured the distance from the cementoenamel junction to the base of the pocket. Radiographic measurement was made to assess bone loss by measuring the distance from C.E.J. to the alveolar crest. Assessment to the furcation area, vertical P.D and a.L were performed in the middle site and the bone level was measured the radiolucency space from the roof of the furca to the interalveolar crest. From the obtained data of the clinical and radiographic parameters we evaluated the correlation between both parameters. The results were as the follows : 1. The correlation between P.D and Rx.B.L in interproximal site was showed high in all teeth(from r=0.897 to r=0.725, p<0.01). 2. The correlation between A.L and Rx.B.L in interproximal site was showed high in all teeth(from r=0.915 to r=0.732, p<0.01). 3. A total of 769 molars(excluding third molars) were measured. Of the total 356upper molars, 146(40%) presented furcation involvement and of the total 413 lower molars, 170(41%) presented furcation involvement. 4. The correlation between P.D at the middle site and Rx.B.L at the furca in molars with furcation involvement was showed high in all teeth (from F=0.811 to r=0.435, p<0.01), for the exception in upper first molars. 5. The correlation between A.L at the middle site and Rx.B.L at the furca molars with furcation involvement was showed high in all teeth (from r=0.906 to r=0.479, p<0.01), for the exception in upper first molars. These results suggest that the radiographic measurement has a high correlation to the clinical measurements, and can contribute significantly in the diagnosis and management of periodontal disease.