The Effect of Occlusal Discrepancies on Periodontitis. I. Relationship of Initial Occlusal Discrepancies to Initial Clinical Parameters

Background: A causal relationship between occlusal discrepancies and periodontal disease has been postulated in the past. However, animal studies and clinical studies have not been able to clearly demonstrate or rule out this potential relationship. Methods: The records from a private practice limited to periodontics were reviewed to find patients who had complete periodontal examination records, including occlusal analysis, that were recorded at least 1 year apart. Patients who fit these criteria were divided into a group who had none of the recommended treatment (untreated n = 30), those that had only nonsurgical treatment (partially treated n = 18), and a control group that had complete all recommended treatment (surgically treated n = 41). The data for each tooth of each patient, including occlusal status, were placed in a database and analyzed using the generalized estimating equations (GEE) method to test for associations between initial occlusal discrepancies and various initial clinical parameters while adjusting for significant confounders. Results: Teeth with initial occlusal discrepancies were found to have significantly deeper initial probing depths (P