Periodontal attachment loss among adults aged 60+ in South Australia

This study aimed to provide oral epidemiological data describing periodontal destruction among older adults in South Australia. A cross-sectional survey design was employed and periodontal assessments were made among 801 persons aged 6+ drawn at random from the non-institutionalized population. Measurements of pocket depth (PD) and gingival recession (GR) were made at three sites on all teeth and used to compute loss of attachment (LOA). An average of 17 teeth per person were measured. LOA of 4+ mm at one or more sites was observed among 89.1% of persons. A mean of 78.1% of sites per person had LOA of 2+ mm (extent) and the mean LOA at sites with LOA of 2+ mm was 3.09 mm (severity). Extent and severity were greater for males and for persons aged 80+ years. Extent was virtually identical for mesio-buccal and disto-lingual sites, while severity was virtually identical for mid-buccal and disto-lingual sites. Patterns of GR and PD varied according to the jaw and type of tooth. Maxillary first and second molars had the greatest mean LOA, and the majority of LOA in the maxilla was due to PD. In the mandible there was less variation in LOA among anterior and posterior teeth, and LOA tended to be more equally divided between GR and PD. Levels of periodontal destruction of South Australia were broadly similar to results from North American studies of older adults which have used full-mouth periodontal assessments.