Risk indicators for increased probing depth in an isolated population in Brazil

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence, extent, and severity of probing depth (PD) and to investigate the associations between demographic, socioeconomic, and behavioral risk indicators and PD in a periodontally untreated and isolated population in Brazil.

The target population consisted of all individuals aged > or =12 years as identified by a census. Consenting participants were submitted to a full-mouth clinical examination of six sites per tooth and were interviewed using a structured written questionnaire.

Among the 214 subjects who were interviewed and clinically examined, PD > or =4 mm was observed in 54% to 83% of the subjects, depending on age, whereas the age-dependent prevalence of PD > or =6 mm ranged from 5% among 12- to 19-year-olds to 50% among 40- to 49-year-olds, decreasing to 40% among subjects > or =50 years of age. Multivariate analyses identified supragingival calculus (odds ratio [OR] = 5.4 to 10.3; 95% confidence intervals [CIs]: 2.5 to 11.6 and 4.0 to 26.2 for 20% to 50% and >50% of the sites, respectively) as a risk indicator for PD > or =4 mm, whereas age > or =40 years (OR = 9.0; 95% CI: 1.7 to 48.5), being a moderate/heavy smoker (OR = 3.7; 95% CI: 1.4 to 10.1), and having supragingival calculus in 20% to 50% of sites (OR = 6.8; 95% CI: 1.4 to 32.4) or in >50% of sites (OR = 15.3; 95% CI: 3.2 to 73.6) were risk indicators for PD > or =6 mm. Having undergone urgency dental treatment was a protective factor for PD > or =4 and > or =6 mm (OR = 0.4; 95% CI: 0.2 to 0.8).

Increased PD is highly prevalent in this isolated population. Behavioral factors played a significant role as risk indicators for increased PD in this isolated population.