Effect of Age on Bleeding on Probing (BOP) as an Indicator of Periodontal Inflammation in Patients Enrolled in Supportive Periodontal Therapy

Purpose: To assess the effect of age on the mean percentage of bleeding on probing (BOP) during supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) in patients enrolled in SPT for at least 5 years. Materials and Methods: This study was performed as a retrospective analysis of data collected from SPT patients initially diagnosed with gingivitis or mild to severe periodontitis. Two groups of patients were selected: in group A, younger adults (age ≤ 35 years) were included while group B consisted of older SPT patients (age ≥ 65 years). BOP in the two groups was compared according to both disease severity and % compliance with SPT visits. Results: BOP in all patients (n = 236) was 19.2% (± 12.4). Group A (n = 110) presented mean BOP levels of 19.7% (± 11.8), while lower BOP levels of 18.7% (± 13.0) were found in group B (n = 126; p = 0.5272). Older patients demonstrating high % compliance had lower mean BOP levels (14.2% ± 9.5) than younger patients (18.0% ± 11.7; p = 0.0841). Similarly, BOP was lower in older patients with moderate (group B: 18.4% ± 12.1, group A: 19.3% ± 14.6, p = 0.0541) or severe periodontitis (group B: 22.4% ± 11.4, group A: 23.2% ± 14.0; p = 0.3440). In patients with moderate or severe periodontitis and higher % compliance with SPT, the mean BOP was statistically significantly lower in older patients than in younger patients (moderate: 14.4% ± 11.9 vs 19.4% ± 15.1, p < 0.0001; severe: 13.2% ± 11.1 vs 18.3% ± 17.5, p = 0.0170). Conclusion: Older patients enrolled in SPT may present lower levels of BOP. This finding should be considered when determining SPT intervals with elderly patients.

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Effect of Age on Bleeding on Probing (BOP) as an Indicator of Periodontal Inflammation in Patients Enrolled in Supportive Periodontal Therapy ; volume:19 ; number:1 ; year:2021 ; pages:43-50 ; Oral health & preventive dentistry ; 19, Heft 1 (2021), 43-50

Contributors, Places and Time

• Creator: Ramseier, Christoph A. ; Fischer, Jean R. ; Fischer, Gino ; Schimmel, Martin

Further information

• DOI: 10.3290/j.ohpd.b898947
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2023052208595067668134
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 14.08.2025, 10:52 AM CEST