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Systematic periodontal therapy with supportive care achieves an 89% 10-year survival rate for posterior teeth, with premolars showing higher survival than molars.
In a major advancement for periodontal research and evidence transparency, a new systematic review and meta-analysis reveals that 89% of posterior teeth affected by periodontitis (gum disease) remain functional 10 years after systematic periodontal therapy, reinforcing the long-term success of modern periodontal treatment and maintenance strategies.
Mark-Steven Howe and other researchers evaluated human studies involving patients with periodontitis treated with non-surgical and/or surgical periodontal therapy followed by supportive periodontal care. Eligible studies encompassed observational cohorts and randomized trials reporting 10-year posterior tooth survival. Data were sourced from PubMed (MEDLINE), Google Scholar, and Europe PMC, with risk of bias assessed via the Hoy Risk of Bias Tool. Two independent reviewers executed extraction of data and quality evaluation.
Overall, 11 studies were suitable for inclusion. Most were retrospective in design and predominantly conducted in Germany, representing diverse clinical settings and sample sizes. Collectively, the studies evaluated 90,089 posterior teeth in patients with a median age of 54.9 years. The pooled 10-year survival rate for posterior teeth following systematic periodontal treatment was 89.0%, although statistical heterogeneity was very high (I² ≈ 98%). Tooth-type analysis revealed prominent differences, as depicted in Table 1:
Meta-regression confirmed that premolars illustrate higher long-term survival compared to molars. The findings support the long-term retention of posterior teeth—particularly premolars—when periodontitis sufferers receive systematic periodontal therapy and ongoing supportive care. These results strengthen the evidence base for tooth preservation strategies in periodontal disease management and highlight the importance of maintenance programs in improving 10-year tooth survival outcomes.
Journal of Dentistry
Ten-year survival of posterior teeth in patients with periodontitis following systematic periodontal treatment: A systematic review and meta-analysis using only open-access evidence and analytic tools
Mark-Steven Howe et al.
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