Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 10, 2025
Robust Ligature-Induced Model of Murine Periodontitis for the Evaluation of Oral Neutrophils
Published on: January 21, 2020
The seasonal occurrence of periodontitis - a retrospective cohort study from a practice-based research network
Stefanie Anna Peikert1,2, Stephanie Metzger3, Anne Brigitte Kruse3
1Department of Dental Medicine and Oral Health, Medical University of Graz, Billrothgasse 4, Graz, 8010, Austria. stefanie.peikert@medunigraz.at.
Objective:
Many diseases are characterised by their seasonal appearance due to circannual changes in immune defence and a lifestyle that changes over the seasons. However, there is a lack of studies regarding the influence of seasonality on periodontitis. Therefore, the aim of this non-interventional, retrospective, observational study was to investigate the influence of seasonality on periodontitis.
Materials And Methods:
Periodontal parameters of 5,908 patients of a practice-based research network (PBRN) were analysed. Probing pocket depth (PPD), Bleeding on Probing (BOP) and tooth mobility were assessed for seasonal fluctuations.
Results:
Within the PBRN patient data, seasonality was significantly associated with PPD of the individual months in patients with periodontitis. Pairwise comparison between the months showed significantly higher PPD in July compared to several months. PPD appeared significantly lower in December compared to June and November. Regarding season, the proportion of deep PPDs ([Formula: see text]6 mm) was significantly higher in summer compared to autumn (p = 0.024). Concerning BOP, a significant difference between winter and autumn could be observed (p = 0.016). No seasonal influence was found for tooth mobility.
Conclusion:
This practice-network based study indicated a tendency for seasonal variations in periodontal parameters among periodontal patients. However, the differences did not achieve clinical relevance.
Clinical Relevance:
Regarding the seasonality of several diseases there might also be an influence of seasons on the periodontium, which would have a potential influence on periodontal studies and daily periodontal examination.
Related Concept Videos
01:11Observational Studies
There are three types of observational studies – Prospective, retrospective, and cross-sectional.
Prospective Study
Prospective studies, also known as longitudinal or cohort studies, are carried out by collecting future data from groups sharing similar characteristics. One...
01:15Teeth
In the bud stage, the tooth germ (an aggregation of cells) starts to form in the developing jawbone. During the cap stage, the tooth germ differentiates into enamel organ, dental papilla, and dental sac, which will later develop into the tooth's enamel, dentin...