Risk factors and socioeconomic condition effects on periodontal and dental health: A pilot study among adults over fifty years of age

Abstract

Objective:Observational studies on the association among systemic/general and oral cavity indices, tooth loss, periodontal conditions, and socioeconomic inequalities are to be still performed in the population of Southern Europe. This study aims to determine the extent of this relationship among Italian healthy adults 50 years of age and above.Materials and Methods:Socioeconomic and lifestyle characteristics, cardiovascular indicators, and systemic indices were examined by contrasting the dental indices among adult people of Northern Italy. Data were processed through correlation analysis, and multivariate analysis was carried out using seemingly unrelated regressions.Results:A total of 118 adults 50 years of age and above, after anamnesis, underwent systemic and dental examination. Their socioeconomic status was found to be inversely associated only with smoking and dental parameters. Unexpected outcomes between lifestyle and risk factors were detected. The statistical analysis showed an uneven correlation among dental indices and between those indices and the socioeconomic status, such as, a periodontal condition, apparently free from influences, unusually became worse as the socioeconomic status enhanced.Conclusions:The study outcomes indicate a relationship between tooth loss and conservative endodontic therapy, but they result in alternative choices. Nevertheless, the socioeconomic status has an inverse relationship with tooth loss and conservative endodontic therapy, but a direct relation with worsening of the periodontal condition. This pilot study highlights a need for the public health administration to adopt a socioeconomic assessment not only based on the household income, but also to accordingly improve its therapeutic course.

Correlation between the state of periodontal tissues and selected risk factors for periodontitis and myocardial infarction

“…Studies by Bertoldi et al 15 indicated that a higher income correlated with a lower number of lost teeth, but also with a better condition of periodontal tissues. People with a lower socio-economic status had fewer teeth, most likely due to the fact that tooth extractions are less expensive and less time consuming, and persons with higher status had more teeth, perhaps because they more often opted for conservative treatment.…”

“…Male predilection for the occurrence of periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease was also observed by other authors. 13,15,16 An analysis of modifiable factors, which depend on us, included, among other things, education and the degree of wealth. Our study showed a lower number of individuals with higher education and higher income among patients after myocardial infarction.…”

How Intraday Index Changes Influence Periodontal Assessment: A Preliminary Study

“…However, several additional causes, sometimes linked to systemic diseases, but also linked to psychological aspects or lifestyle, play roles in the progression of periodontal damage. Wide evidence exists in that daily stressors and stress vulnerability factors are associated with inflammatory markers and endocrine and immune functioning [ 5 , 10 , 11 ]. Moreover, it is known, thanks to pioneering work on animals, that response to various pathogens and their by-products including bacterial endotoxins and exotoxins and proinflammatory cytokines is under diurnal control [ 12 – 19 ].…”

“…Moreover, prevalence of periodontitis in several countries is based upon indices of periodontal treatment screening [ 27 – 29 ]. Consequently, clinical periodontal indices assume particular epidemiological, diagnostic, and prognostic importance in risk assessment and identification of appropriate therapeutic strategy, given the lack of reliable pathogenic criteria based specifically upon interpretation of type of inflammation [ 4 , 5 , 30 , 31 ]. Probing depth and clinical attachment levels are used in the diagnosis or prognosis of specific periodontal diseases, but these indicators are liable to misinterpretation, even when correctly measured and even when abundant microbiota deposition or gingivitis is present [ 32 – 34 ].…”

Association between Education level and lifestyle on periodontal health status in adults(35-44 years)- A cross sectional study

“…Periodontitis or inflammation of periodontium results from the extension of the inflammatory process initiated in the gingiva to the supporting periodontal tissues, leading to bone damage and eventually loss of teeth. In India, periodontal disease has a high prevalence 2 rate. There are also huge disparities between the education level and 3 lifestyle status of the people living in the country.…”