Background: The relevance of tooth mobility on periodontal healing is still controversial. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of presurgical tooth mobility on periodontal regenerative outcomes.
Methods: The data in this study were derived from three randomized clinical trials which evaluated regenerative procedures. Sixty-four patients with one intraosseous periodontal defect each received one of the following treatments: guided tissue regeneration (GTR) using expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), GTR using a bioabsorbable membrane with or without demineralized freeze-dried bone allograft (DFDBA), or enamel matrix derivative with or without DFDBA. Probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), recession (REC), and tooth mobility (TM) were recorded at baseline and 1 year after treatment by a calibrated examiner. The post-surgical follow-up and maintenance periods were designed to optimize plaque control. The teeth were grouped according to their baseline Miller index TM score. The grouping yielded 36 teeth with minimal mobility, score 0; 13 teeth with score 1; and 15 with score 2. The mean changes in PD, CAL and REC from baseline to 1 year were calculated for each group. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to assess differences between the tooth mobility groups considering changes in PD, CAL, and REC at 1 year.
Results: The mean PD reduction from baseline to 1 year for teeth with TM score 0 was 3.67 mm; for TM score 1, 2.81 mm; and for score 2, 3.73 mm. The corresponding values for the gain in CAL were 2.73, 1.96, and 2.36 mm, respectively. According to ANOVA, the probing depth reductions and clinical attachment level gains found in each group were not statistically different, P= 0.218 and P= 0.252, respectively.
Conclusion: Within the limitations of this analysis, it can be concluded that interproximal, intraosseous defects of teeth with limited presurgical tooth mobility; i.e., teeth with Miller's Class 1 and 2 mobility, will respond favorably to regenerative therapy.