Periodontal Status in Periodontitis Patients with Temporary Periodontal Splint: A Retrospective Study

Periodontitis, an inflammatory condition initiated by a number of particular microorganisms, damages the periodontal ligament, cementum, and alveolar bone, resulting in tooth mobility or even tooth loss. Periodontal splinting can be administered in adjunct to periodontal treatment by stabilizing tooth mobility. To the best of our knowledge, no strong evidence has been reported regarding the clinical data of tooth immobilization in periodontitis in order to optimize the outcome. Therefore, this retrospective study aimed to investigate the epidemiologic data and periodontal status of periodontitis patients who underwent the temporary periodontal splinting treatment.

Periodontal medical records in the dental hospital were collected within the past two years based on the inclusion criteria of this study. Medical records of patients with systemic disease and a history of periodontal surgery were excluded.

Patients who received a temporary periodontal splint was more prevalent in females (70.2%), young elderly-age group (53.2%), patients with extra-coronal splint (55.4%), patients who had occlusal adjustment prior to the splint (51.8%), patients with good Oral Hygiene Index-Simplified (OHI-S) (75%), and Trauma from the occlusion (TFO) cases (45.2%). The damage that reaches the apical third of the dental root was 7%, the middle third of the dental root was 49.2%, and tooth #31 had the largest distribution with the most alveolar bone injury. The tooth #42 had the highest vertical pattern (7%) and horizontal pattern (62.8%) of alveolar bone damage.

In conclusion, temporary periodontal splint therapy has been conducted widely to support periodontal status.