A New Method for Volumetric Analysis of Soft‐Tissue Changes Using Three‐Dimensional Imaging in Patients With Periodontitis

• Published in: Journal of clinical periodontology Vol. 52; no. 6; pp. 888 - 897
• Main Authors: Pupovac, Aleksandar, Kuiš, Davor, Mišković, Ivana, Špalj, Stjepan, Zhurov, Alexei, Prpić, Jelena
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.06.2025
• Subjects: 3D imaging; Adult; Aged; Female; gingiva; Gum disease; Humans; Imaging, Three-Dimensional - methods; Male; Middle Aged; non‐surgical periodontal debridement; Periodontitis; Periodontitis - diagnostic imaging; Periodontitis - pathology; Periodontitis - therapy; Smoking; Smoking - adverse effects; Statistical analysis; Volumetric analysis; non‐surgical periodontal debridement; 3D imaging; gingiva; periodontitis; smoking
• ISSN: 0303-6979; 1600-051X; 1600-051X
• DOI: 10.1111/jcpe.14118

ABSTRACT Aims To quantify changes in soft‐tissue volume induced by non‐surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT) in patients with periodontitis and correlate them with clinical parameters and smoking. A new digital approach is investigated because standard periodontal clinical assessment methods are unable to accurately capture volumetric changes. Materials and Methods Thirty‐nine subjects with periodontitis aged 27–70 years (median 48; 51% females; 49% smokers) were included. All subjects underwent clinical examination and intraoral scanning at baseline and 8 weeks after NSPT. Digital models were superimposed, and changes in volume were analysed and correlated with clinical parameters. Results NSPT reduced soft‐tissue volume in both smokers and non‐smokers (p < 0.001). Non‐smokers had a higher median change in volume than smokers (267.4 vs. 210.5 mm3), without statistically significant differences. Periodontal clinical parameters linearly correlated with soft‐tissue volume changes. In multiple linear regression, a higher initial proportion of pockets ≥ 5 mm was the only predictor of volume change when the effects of change in plaque score, smoking status, age and sex were controlled for (p = 0.015). Conclusion NSPT resulted in comparable reductions in soft‐tissue volume for both smokers and non‐smokers, which was confirmed by a new digital approach. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05719519, 25.01.2023