Root caries in periodontally treated patients in relation to their compliance with suggested periodontal maintenance intervals.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the correlation between the degree of patient compliance with the suggested periodontal maintenance treatment intervals and the new root caries development 5 years after the completion of the active periodontal treatment. The percentage of root surfaces with new root caries was low for both the erratic and the complete compliance patient groups. Erratic compliance with the suggested maintenance intervals 5 years after the active periodontal treatment leads to greater root caries prevalence, greater percentages of patients and root surfaces with new root caries, greater root caries prevalence for smokers, and greater percentages of new defects in root surfaces with further clinical attachment loss and plaque retention. The prevention of root caries development is based on the daily plaque removal and the high patient compliance with the therapist's suggestions for periodontal maintenance intervals.