Efficacy of communicating periodontal risk on psychological outcomes and supragingival plaque control in patients undergoing first periodontal consultation: A parallel‐arm, randomized trial

• Published in: Journal of clinical periodontology Vol. 51; no. 10; pp. 1289 - 1301
• Main Authors: Farina, Roberto, Simonelli, Anna, Guarnelli, Maria Elena, Secchiati, Giacomo, Montemezzo, Giulia, Scapoli, Chiara, Trombelli, Leonardo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.10.2024
• Subjects: Adult; Affect; awareness; Dental Plaque - prevention & control; Dental Plaque Index; Emotions; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Gum disease; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Motivation; Motivational Interviewing - methods; Patient Education as Topic - methods; Periodontitis; Periodontitis - prevention & control; Periodontitis - psychology; Plaque index; propensity score; risk; risk assessment; Risk groups; Tooth Loss - prevention & control; Tooth Loss - psychology; Treatment Outcome; risk assessment; risk; awareness; motivation; propensity score
• ISSN: 0303-6979; 1600-051X; 1600-051X
• DOI: 10.1111/jcpe.14032

Aim To evaluate the efficacy of the PerioRisk prognostic tool in implementing the effect of motivational interviewing (MI) on psychological outcomes and supragingival plaque control. Materials and Methods Participants underwent MI immediately after their first periodontal visit. According to a parallel‐arm, randomized study design, MI was performed with (RISK group) or without (CTR group) information on PerioRisk level and treatment goals based on PerioRisk output. Psychological outcomes were assessed using the Positive Affect Negative Affect Scale (PANAS) and Protection Motivation Theory (PMT). Plaque index (PI) was re‐evaluated after 8–12 weeks. Results Significant improvements in PMT overall score and PI were observed in CTR and RISK groups, without inter‐group difference in PANAS and PMT overall scores and PI. A sub‐analysis showed that the overall PMT scores recorded immediately after MI in both CTR and RISK groups for subjects with no tooth loss due to periodontitis were higher than those recorded before MI in subjects with tooth loss due to periodontitis. Conclusions At first periodontal visit, MI (implemented with without PerioRisk) has tangible effects on psychological outcomes and supragingival plaque control and seems to anticipate the awareness that is commonly generated by periodontitis‐related tooth loss (ClinicalTrials.gov protocol registration ID: NCT05078411).