More than 90% of people between the ages of 35 and 44 in Taiwan have periodontal disease, prompting the National Health Insurance system to launch the comprehensive periodontal treatment project (CPTP) in 2010. A recent study from 3 of Taiwan’s leading universities has shown that this program has been making a difference.
While conventional treatment is reactionary, the CPTP is preventative. It emphasizes oral hygiene instruction, plaque control, and checkup compliance to provide complete, continual, and high-quality periodontal care. A special government budget fully supports the additional 20% expense of treatment fees when most patients have moderate to severe periodontitis and require comprehensive treatment.
The first stage comprises pretreatment x-rays, a periodontal exam, oral hygiene instruction, and a handbook. The second entails subgingival curettage or root planing and plaque removal, along with advanced plaque removal instruction and plaque control records. The third stage uses post-treatment charting, plaque control records, and assessment of probing pocket depth.
The researchers recruited 65,342 patients who had completed all 3 stages between 2011 and 2012 as well as 106,740 patients who received conventional treatment during the same period. Using retreatment, endodontic therapy, surgical restoration, and tooth extraction as prognostic indicators, the researchers performed logistic regression analyses to determine which group had better clinical outcomes.
According to the data, 6.74% of the CPTP patients received retreatment, while 14.48% of the control group received it. Also, 20.37% of the CPTP patients received endodontic therapy versus 22.68% of the control, and 25.47% of the CPTP patients needed tooth extraction versus 30.35% of the control. Meanwhile, 57.13% of the CPTP patients and 57.16% of the control saw surgical restoration, which the researchers did not consider significantly different.
The researchers concluded that the CPTP enables patients to effectively control their dental plaque and achieve favorable treatment outcomes compared to treatment programs that involve discontinuous care and irregular follow-up. However, it requires good communication between dentists and patients to improve appointment arrangements, remind patients about these appointments, care for patients with sudden issues, and complete the entire CPTP course.
The study, “Patients Receiving Comprehensive Periodontal Treatment Have Better Clinical Outcomes Than Patients Receiving Conventional Periodontal Treatment,” was published by the Journal of the Formosan Medical Association.
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