Attachment loss in rural Chinese children over a 3-year period

The periodontal condition of 84 children (9-14 years old, 38 males and 46 females) in a rural area of China was monitored over a 3-year period in order to determine the clinical parameters that act as risk factors for attachment loss.

Plaque and calculus accumulation (PSS and CI), modified gingival index (MGI), pocket depth (PD) and attachment level (AL) of two quadrants of each child were examined in 1993 and 1996. Following calculation of the mean of each of these parameters and statistical analysis of the change in each of the clinical parameters over the 3-year period, the relationship between attachment loss and clinical parameters was analyzed using multiple regression analysis.

At the beginning of this study, the mean values for males and females were 3.66 and 3.58 for PSS, 1.22 and 1.17 for MGI, 1.07 and 0.90 for CI, 2.21 and 2.22 for PD, and both 0.02 for AL respectively. No significant difference between males and females was observed. After 3 years, all except mean PSS had increased significantly. Multiple regression analysis indicated that AL correlated only to age (P<0.01). In 1993, although the AL was > or =1 mm for at least one site in 21 children, none had an AL> or =3 mm. In 1996, the number of children with an AL> or =1 mm had increased to 63, and nine of these children exhibited 3 mm AL (one to six sites per child). No other significant differences were observed between the clinical data of these nine children and those of the other children.

Although attachment loss tended to increase with age, no clinical parameters correlated with attachment loss in children.