The benefits of occlusal adjustment as a component of periodontal treatment have not been adequately demonstrated in the clinical research to date, according to a new systematic review in the Journal of Dentistry (December 2012, Vol. 40:12, pp. 1025-1035).

"The relationship between trauma from occlusion (TfO) and periodontal disease has been discussed for more than a century," wrote the study authors from University of São Paulo dental school. "A few observational studies reported a positive relationship between TfO and [clinical attachment loss (CAL)] and demonstrated that periodontally compromised teeth presenting TfO had less bone support and greater pocket probing depth."

Based on these studies, "if TfO had any relationship to the progression of periodontitis, then its elimination could also enhance clinical periodontal conditions," they noted.

View the complete article