Background: Probiotics are living microorganisms that provide beneficial effects for the host when administered in proper quantities. The aim of this double‐masked placebo‐controlled parallel‐arm randomized clinical trial is to evaluate the clinical effects of a Lactobacillus rhamnosus SP1‐containing probiotic sachet as an adjunct to non‐surgical therapy.Methods: Twenty‐eight systemically healthy volunteers with chronic periodontitis were recruited and monitored clinically at baseline and 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after therapy. Clinical parameters measured included plaque accumulation, bleeding on probing, probing depths (PDs), and clinical attachment loss. Patients received non‐surgical therapy, including scaling and root planing (SRP), and were assigned randomly to a test (SRP + probiotic, n = 14) or control (SRP + placebo, n = 14) group. The intake, once a day for 3 months, of an L. rhamnosus SP1 probiotic sachet commenced after the last session of SRP.Results: Both test and control groups showed improvements in clinical parameters at all time points evaluated. However, the test group showed greater reductions in PD than the control. Also, at initial visits and after 1‐year follow‐up, the test group showed a statistically significant reduction in the number of participants with PD ≥6 mm, indicating a reduced need for surgery, in contrast to the placebo group.Conclusion: The results of this trial indicate that oral administration of L. rhamnosus SP1 resulted in similar clinical improvements compared with SRP alone.

Keywords: Chronic periodontitis; Lactobacillus rhamnosus; Azithromycin

Background: Data from national surveys regarding the periodontal status of the adult population in Latin America are scarce. The aim of this study assesses the prevalence and extension of clinical attachment loss (AL) in the adult population of Chile. Age, sex, and sociodemographic and behavioral differences in the prevalence of clinical AL are also examined.Methods: A stratified, multistage probability design formula was used to separate the adult Chilean population into two age cohorts. The first group consisted of 1,092 young adults (age range: 35 to 44 years), and the second group consisted of 469 adult seniors (age range: 65 to 74 years). All subjects were examined to measure clinical AL. The research also included an evaluation, conducted through oral interviews, of social and health aspects of the subjects. Clinical AL was measured in all teeth surfaces, excluding third molars. Results were analyzed using a multivariable model and logistic regression.Results: A total of 93.45% of the young adults had ≥1 site with clinical AL >3 mm compared with 97.58% of the adult seniors, with an average of 6.51 and 15.81 missing teeth, respectively (P 6 mm) was 38.65% in young adults and 69.35% in senior adults (P <0.05). Clinical AL was significantly higher in males than in females (P 6 mm in ≥1 site were: age (65 to 74 years), sex (male) low education level (≤12 years of education), and smoking (P <0.05).Conclusion: The adult population in Chile shows a high prevalence and extension of clinical AL with age, sex, education level, and smoking as the main risk indicators of severe clinical AL in this population.

The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of dental caries, tooth loss, and risk factors among adult population of Chile. Furthermore, age, gender, and behavioural specific differences in caries prevalence and tooth loss were examined. A national stratified multistage probabilistic sample design in two-age cohorts was applied to the Chilean population. A sample of 1553 adults, comprising 1088 individuals aged 35–44 and 465 senior individuals aged 65–74, were examined. The DMFT was evaluated following WHO recommendations using diagnostic criteria of caries lesions into dentin. The data were analyzed by univariate and multivariate models using logistic regression analyses. Results showed a mean DMFT of 15.06 in the 35–44-year-old group and of 21.57 in the 65–74 group. Factors related to tooth loss in the 35–44 group through univariate logistic regression were depression (OR 1.9 CI 95% 1.26–2.85), education level <12 years (OR 2.24 CI 95% 1.31–3.73), personal income (OR 1.51 CI 95% 1.04–2.19), and familiar income (OR 2.05 CI 95% 1.34–3.13), and through multivariate logistic regression in the same age group were depression (OR 1.93 CI 95% 1.24–3.0), education level <12 years (OR 1.94 CI 95% 1.2–3.14), and familiar income (OR 1.71 CI 95% 1.09–2.68). Factors related to tooth loss in the 65–74-year-old group through univariate logistic regression were education level <12 years (OR 2.54 CI 95% 1.3–4.96) and personal income (OR 1.66 CI 95% 1.05–2.63), and for multivariate logistic regression in the same age group, it was education level <12 years (OR 2.51 CI 95% 1.21–5.18). In conclusion, adult population in Chile showed a high prevalence of dental caries and tooth loss, as age, education level, personal and familiar incomes, and depression are being the main risk factors.