Using precision periodontal health care chart (PPHCC) to improve periodontal health.

Abstract

Objectives: Developing a Precision Periodontal Health Care Chart (PPHCC) in the electronic dental record (EDR) system and evaluating its clinical usability and effects on clinical outcomes.

Materials and methods: A survey with ten questions based on the System Usability Scale (SUS) and six questions about assessing clinical impact was used to evaluate the satisfaction of periodontitis patients and care providers with PPHCC before and after non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT). The clinical outcomes, including probing depth (PD), interdental clinical attachment loss (CAL), and bleeding on probing (BOP), in patients who used PPHCC (PC) were compared to those in patients without using PPHCC (control). The associations between risk assessments included in PPHCC and clinical outcomes of NSPT were also analyzed.

Results: The mean scores of SUS questions at the initial periodontal examination were 74.26 ± 18.89 (n = 37) for patients and 88.31 ± 14.14 (n = 37) for care providers. The mean scores of SUS questions at re-evaluation were 74.84 ± 17.78 (n = 16) for patients and 89.63 ± 13.48 (n = 20) for care providers. The changes in the percentages of teeth with interdental CAL 1-2 mm (p = 0.019) and CAL 3-4 mm (p = 0.026) at the re-evaluation visit were significantly different between the PC and control groups, but the other parameters were not.

Conclusions: Both patients and care providers were satisfied with using PPHCC in the clinic. However, the short-term clinical outcomes in the PC group were similar to those in the control group.

Clinical relevance: PPHCC, as a tool for delivering clinical and educational information, can motivate patients to control periodontitis and assist clinicians in making a personalized treatment plan.