[Tooth loss and periodontal status variables among policemen from Campeche, Mexico]

Identify the variables associated with periodontal status and tooth loss among a sample of adults.

We carried out a cross-sectional study among 161 policemen. Our sample was representative of socioeconomics status and lifestyle among policemen in Campeche, Mexico. All periodontal clinical examinations were assessed using the Florida Probe System using a fixed dental chair and one examiner. The variables we measured included presence of dental plaque, calculus, probing deep, gingival insertion, loss of attachment, gingival retraction, suppuration, and probing blood. We examined six sites surrounding all teeth available in the mouth (maximum 168 sites and excluded third molars). Statistical analyses were performed with STATA 8.2 using a bivariate negative binomial regression model due to over-dispersion in the dependent variable.

The mean age was 38.36 +/- 10.99 (range: 20-78). The mean of tooth and sites examined in participants was 24.45 +/- 4.63 and 146.72 +/- 27.80, respectively. The prevalence of tooth loss was 73.3%. 571 teeth were missing and the overall mean of missing teeth was 3.55 +/- 4.63 and within subjects with tooth loss was 4.84 +/- 4.80. The prevalence of functional dentition (21 tooth or more) was 83.8%. To have > 20% gingivitis, > 5% of sites with probing deep > or = 4 mm, > 5% of sites with gingival retraction, > 70% of sites with attachment loss > 2 mm, and each unit of age increase the mean expected of tooth loss by 70.6%, 41.8, 156.4%, 86.9%, and 3.6%, respectively.

Our study findings confirm that lost teeth are common among study participants. Higher prevalence and average of tooth loss was observed among this adult population. Several variables of periodontal status were associated with tooth loss.