Correlation between clinical and radiographic findings on the occurrence of furcation involvement in patients with periodontitis

Aim : The aim of the present study was to determine the occurrence of furcation involvement in the molars of patients with chronic periodontitis and correlate clinical and radiographic findings. Materials and Methods: Seventy subjects aged 35-69 years enrolled for treatment at a periodontics specialization program in Pernambuco, Brazil (EAP-SCDP-ABO/PE) participated in the study, comprising a total of 350 molars examined. The clinical diagnosis of furcation involvement was performed with a horizontal Nabers probe, whereas the radiographic examination was performed with periapical and bite-wing radiographs. The images were analyzed with an X-ray viewer at 3× magnification. The Chi-square test was used, with the level of significance set at 5%. Results: A total of 64.5% individuals presented with furcation involvement, 43.1% of whom had degree II furcation. A significant association (P = 0.0060) was found between tooth type and frequency of furcation involvement. The first lower and upper molars were affected in 64.5 and 58.5% of cases, respectively. Adequate agreement (0.65) was observed between the clinical and radiographic findings. Conclusion: Taking into consideration the method employed and the results obtained, it may be concluded that the clinical and radiographic examinations performed are effective tools for diagnosing furcation involvement in teeth affected with periodontal disease.