Study Claims that annual Dental Cleaning May Be Enough for Some
But people at risk of gum disease need more frequent appointments, researcher says
Published on MONDAY, June 10 (Researchers from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry)
A study that stated “For many people, once-a-year dental cleaning may be enough to prevent gum disease that leads to tooth loss”, according to a new study.
“Twice-yearly cleanings have been recommended for over 50 years without supporting evidence,” study author William Giannobile, a professor of dentistry and biomedical engineering at the University of Michigan, said in a university news release.
But the results of this study “showed that one yearly cleaning is likely to be enough for patients with no risk factors,” he said. “Patients with one or more risk factors, which represent over half of the population, should visit at least twice a year and likely more in some cases.”
For the study, which was published online June 10 in the Journal of Dental Research, Giannobile and colleagues looked at data from more than 5,100 adults who visited the dentist regularly for 16 straight years, had no history of gum disease and received one or two cleanings each year.
The researchers examined the link between the frequency of teeth cleanings and long-term tooth loss in the participants, as well as three key gum disease risk factors: smoking, diabetes and genetics.
Two dental cleanings a year provided significant benefits to people with one or more of the three risk factors, while people with two or three of the risk factors may require more than two cleanings a year. But one cleaning per year appears sufficient for people with none of the risk factors, according to the study.
“The future of health care is personalized medicine,” Giannobile said. “This study represents an important step toward making it a reality, and in a disease that is widespread, costly and preventable.”
“We have long known that some individuals are at greater risk of gum disease, but tools haven’t been available to adequately identify those at increased risk and prevent disease progression,” he said.
Statement by ADA. (American Dental Association)
June 10, 2013
American Dental Association Statement on Regular Dental Visits
– To maintain optimal oral health, the American Dental Association (ADA) recommends regular dental visits, at intervals determined by a dentist. In light of a new study published in the Journal of Dental Research titled “Patient Stratification for Preventive Care in Dentistry,” the ADA wants to remind consumers that the frequency of their regular dental visits should be tailored by their dentists to accommodate for their current oral health status and health history.
In the June 10 issue of the journal, researchers from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry explored the link between long-term tooth loss and frequency of preventive dental visits in adults with and without three risk factors for periodontal disease: smoking, diabetes and genetic variations. The study concluded that individual risk factors help to dictate the frequency of cleanings needed per year to help prevent periodontal disease. Based on data analysis, researchers speculate that high-risk patients would likely benefit from more frequent dental visits, while low-risk patients may see the same benefits from only one cleaning per year. The key takeaway for consumers, underscored by this study, is that personalized oral care is a necessity for good dental health. The ADA encourages people to work closely with their dentists to identify any potential risk factors that would determine the need for and frequency of follow up visits to enhance the outcomes of preventive care.
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