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Risk indicators for periodontal disease in a remote Canadian community--a dental practice-based study
Mandy Sbaraglia1, Robert S Turnbull, David Locker
1Department of Periodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Journal of Public Health Dentistry
|January 1, 2004
Summary
Poor periodontal health is prevalent in a remote Canadian community. Smoking is a significant risk factor, alongside plaque, missing teeth, age, and infrequent dental visits.
Area of Science:
- Dental Public Health
- Periodontology
Background:
- Periodontal attachment loss (PAL) is a key indicator of periodontal disease.
- Identifying risk factors is crucial for targeted interventions, especially in underserved populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify risk markers and indicators for periodontal attachment loss.
- To investigate the association between smoking and periodontal disease experience in a remote Canadian community.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 187 adult patients in rural Northern Ontario.
- Data collected via questionnaires (demographics, behaviors) and periodontal examinations (mean PAL, proportion of sites with ≥2mm and ≥5mm loss).
- Bivariate and multivariate analyses examined associations between PAL and variables like smoking, plaque, flossing, and dental visit regularity.
Main Results:
- Mean PAL was 3.9 mm; 35% of sites had ≥5mm loss.
- Plaque, missing teeth, age, smoking, dental visit regularity, and flossing frequency significantly predicted PAL.
- Smoking showed the strongest association (OR=6.3), with over 30% of subjects having severe periodontal disease.
Conclusions:
- Periodontal health in this population is poor.
- Key risk indicators include missing teeth, plaque, age, smoking, infrequent dental visits, and poor flossing habits.
- Behavioral factors significantly influence periodontal disease, supporting previous research.