Tooth mobility may be the decisive factor that determines whether dental treatment of any kind is undertaken. Although tooth mobility in isolation says little in itself, the finding of increased tooth mobility is of both diagnostic and prognostic importance. Only the detection of an increase or decrease in mobility makes an evaluation possible. Thus prior to treatment, we must understand the pathologic process causing the observed the tooth mobility and decide whether the pattern and degree of observed tooth mobility is reversible or irreversible. And then it must be decided whether retention and treatment or extraction and replacement.

The purpose of this study was to compare tooth mobility at different time period during root planing and flap operation and to relate changes in mobility to each treatment method. Twenty-one patients (287 teeth) with chronic adult periodontitis were treated with root planing(control group) and flap operation(experimental group), and each group was divided 3 subgroups based upon initial probing pocket depth (1-3mm, 4-6mm, 7mm and more). Tooth mobility was measured with Periotest® at the day of operation, 4 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks after each treatment. Tooth mobility, attachment loss, radiographic bone loss, and bleeding on probing were measured at the day of operation, 4 weeks, 8 weeks and 12 weeks after treatment.

In group initial probing depth was 1-3mm, tooth mobility had no significant difference after root planing and flap operation.

In group initial probing depth was 4-6mm, 7mm and more, tooth mobility had decreased in 12 weeks after root planing(p<0.01). And the mobility had increased after flap operation(p<0.01) and was at peak in 1 week, and decreased at initial level in 4 weeks, below the initial level in 12 weeks(p<0.01).

In 1 week, significant difference in tooth mobility between control and experimental group was found(p<0.01) but, in 12 weeks no difference between two groups was found.

Change of immediate tooth mobility after treatment was more larger in deep pocket than in shallow one. In group with the same probing pocket depth, the change of tooth mobility in molar group was greater than that of premolar group.

Tooth mobility before treatment was more strongly correlated with radiographic bone loss(r=0.5325) than probing depth, attachment loss and bleeding on probing, in 12 weeks after treatment, was more strongly correlated with attachment loss(r²=0.4761) than probing depth and bleeding on probing.

Evaluation of the treatment effect and the prognosis after root planing and flap operation were meaningful on tooth initial probing depth 4mm and more. After flap operation, evaluation of the prognosis should be performed at least in 4 weeks and in 12 weeks after treatment, no difference in tooth mobility between two groups was observed. Radiographic bone loss and attachment loss were good clinical indicators to evaluate tooth mobility.