The Need for Periodontal Treatment in Relation to Socioeconomic Status and Health Behavior

Abstract

Socioeconomic factors, detal status, health behaviour and some environmental factors were scrutinized in relation to the need for periodontal treatment. A linear multiple regression model was fitted to test which variables best explain the need of periodontal treatment. The subjects (315) of the study were employees of a paper mill in Finland. The periodontal status was classified according to a modified Periodontal Treatment Need System. The data on background variables was collected by a self-administered questionnaire. About 30% of the treatment need could be explained with the above factors. The order of the factors determining the periodontal treatment need was: number of teeth (13.3%), age (13.2%), education (0.9%), toothbrushing frequency (0.6%), and use of chewing gum (0.3%).

A socio‐economic perspective on periodontal diseases: a systematic review

“…In a study of employees at one paper mill in Finland, Markkanen et al (1980) included education and income in the analysis of associations to periodontal diseases. Education explained only 0.9% of the variance in periodontal status, and the influence of income was never significant.…”

Subgingival Microbiota of Chilean Patients With Chronic Periodontitis

“…11,25-29 Low income, low occupational status, and low level of education may limit access to dental care services and the use of preventive measures such as oral hygiene. 25,[27][28][29] A study by Umeda et al 7 found that risk indicators for harboring A. actinomycetemcomitans, T. forsythensis, P. gingivalis, P. intermedia, P. nigrescens, and T. denticola in four ethnic/racial groups in Los Angeles, included race/ethnicity, age, gender, time of residence in United States, smoking, frequency of professional dental care, and existing periodontal disease. Chilean subjects in the current study exhibited several of these risk indicators.…”

Association of lifestyle with periodontal health

“…Those who use alcohol, smoke tobacco, have unfavorable eating habits or are physically less active arc tnore likely to be unregular toothbrushers (7,8). However, previous studies don't show definite results concerning association between toothbrushing frequency and periodontal health (9)(10)(11)(12).…”

“…Behavioral factors explaitied sex differences in health status (36). The dental health behavior of women is healthier than that of men (7,12,27,28). The prevalence of periodontal disease is lower atnong women than men (28,37).…”