This study was designed to measure the prevalence of periodontal disease in a hospitalized population and to determine whether persons with confirmed diagnoses of specific diseases demonstrate a greater prevalence of periodontal disease than those who are in relatively good health. EXPERIMENTAL METHODSDescription of sample.-The sample studied was drawn from patients who were hospitalized at the Veterans Administration Hospital, Brooklyn, New York. Veterans comprised a large proportion of the total male population, but eligibility for hospitalization depended upon whether or not disabilities were incurred during military service or low economic status. Every patient admitted to the hospital received a complete physical examination, chest X-ray, urinalysis, and blood count as a very minimum; most patients received even more extensive examination. The oral examination was completed by the Dental Service as an integral part of the physical examination.From July 1, 1957, through December 31, 1958, a total of 9,241 patients was admitted to the hospital, of which 7,325 were seen by a staff dentist. Patients who were not seen by a dentist were those who were seriously ill throughout their hospital stay, those admitted for contagious diseases, those hospitalized for a few days, and those discharged unexpectedly or against medical advice. Complete oral examination in the dental clinic, including a full-mouth series of radiograms, was provided for 4,832 patients, and these comprised the sample under study. Of this number, 838 were edentulous, leaving 3,994 who had one or more teeth present in their mouths and were potentially susceptible to periodontal disease. There was no statistical breakdown for sex or race, since more than 90 per cent of all admissions to the hospital and of all patients examined were white males and less than 0.5 per cent were females.

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