Periodontal disease among 45–54 year olds in Adelaide, South Australia

Abstract

Background: The aims of this study were to describe the prevalence, extent and severity of periodontal disease among middle-aged adults, and to examine periodontitis by dental visit pattern, dental and health behaviour, socio-demographics and socioeconomic status. Methods: A random sample of 45-54 year olds from metropolitan Adelaide, South Australia was surveyed by mailed self-complete questionnaire during 2004-2005 with up to four follow-up mailings of the questionnaire to non-respondents (n=879 responded, response rate=43.8 per cent). Oral examinations were performed on 709 people who responded to the questionnaire (completion rate=80.7 per cent), providing an assessment of periodontal status. Results: Prevalence of loss of attachment (LOA) of 6+ mm was 19.2 per cent, extent of sites with LOA of 6+ mm was 1.3 per cent, and severity of LOA of sites with LOA of 2+ mm was 2.4mm. Using a case definition for periodontitis of two or more sites with LOA of 5+ mm and one or more sites with PD of 4+ mm in a multivariate logistic regression showed higher odds of periodontitis for people who last visited for relief of pain (OR=1.93) and who smoked daily/occasionally (OR=3.84), while lower odds were observed for people who were born in Australia (OR=0.51) and spoke English as the main language at home (OR=0.34). Conclusions: While periodontal disease was related to visit pattern and health-related behaviours, the relationship with place of birth and main language spoken at home indicated socio-cultural variation in disease not explained by behaviour among this cohort of 45-54 year olds.Key words: Periodontal disease, 45-54 year olds, visit pattern, smoking status, socio-demographics.Abbreviations and acronyms: CEJ = cemento-enamel junction; CPITN = Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs; FGM = free gingival margin; GR = gingival recession; ICC = intra-class correlation; LOA = loss of attachment; PD = pocket depth.

Biomarkers of periodontal inflammation in the Australian adult population

“…18,26,27 For example, findings from the Australian NSAOH in which this study is nested, demonstrated that periodontitis prevalence was associated with greater age, males, fewer years of schooling and eligibility for public dental care. Socio-demographic factors associated with CRP tended also to be associated with IL-1b.…”

Dental knowledge and oral health among middle‐aged adults

“…Some key demographic characteristics from the Census showed a close approximation to that observed in the study. 10,11 Comparison with other sample data showed a range of generally small differences between these data and the study participants, and reliability of the clinical measures was reported to be good to excellent.…”

“…10,11 The implications of a focus on individual knowledge and behaviour need to be considered cautiously. Lifestyle interventions have been criticised for their limited effectiveness in producing sustained improvements in oral health or for reducing oral health inequalities.…”

“…9 Despite the shift away from lifestyle explanations of oral health disparities, the association of dental behaviour with oral health has persisted. 10,11 The aims of the study were to assess the role of dental knowledge on oral health by examining whether the knowledge of behaviours related to the prevention of caries was associated with oral health, whether this dental knowledge was associated with sociodemographic characteristics, and if dental knowledge was associated with oral health, would the association persist after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics.…”

Volume 21 Number 11 & 12

“…The response rate was similar to those of previous studies. 20 To overcome a possible sampling bias, a weighting procedure was used. As this study reports on the findings of clinical examinations, we did not report on the potential confounding factors for caries experience.…”