Survey of human periodontal disease in Iceland

Prevalence of gingivitis in 6-year-olds in Reykjavik, Iceland

As part of a wider investigation of malocclusion, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of gingivitis in 6-year-olds in Reykjavik. Parents and guardians of the 401 children in 8 schools were invited by letter to have their children take part. There were 230 positive replies (57%). The Gingival Bleeding Index was used to determine the condition of the gingiva on mesiobuccal and buccal surfaces of 6 selected teeth (totaling 12 surfaces). The results showed that 26% had healthy gingivae, 23% showed bleeding from one surface, 20% from two, 17% from three, and 15% from four to eight surfaces. There were no statistically significant differences in the number of bleeding surfaces between boys and girls. The mean GBI for the whole group was 16%. Gingivitis in this group was therefore prevalent but usually slight.

Edentulousness in Iceland in 1990. A national questionnaire survey

Levels of edentulousness were established for seven age groups by means of self-administered questionnaires. The percentage of edentulousness in the Icelandic adult population (18 years and over) was 20.7%. Edentulousness was first reported in the 35- to 44-year-olds and increased rapidly with age. Women had a higher level of edentulousness than men, and the percentage of edentulous people in Reykjavík was significantly lower than in towns, villages, and rural areas. The proportion of edentulous 35- to 44-year-olds and those 65 years old or older was significantly lower than in a similar study in 1985. The percentage of 18- to 79-year-old edentulous Icelanders in 1990 decreased considerably from the results of a national survey on oral health performed in 1962, mainly as a result of a major reduction of edentulousness in the younger age groups and among women.

Caries prevalence in Icelandic children in 1970 and 1983

In the autumn of 1983 a clinical survey was carried out on 756 children aged 6-14 yr, residing in three non-fluoridated communities in Iceland. The aim of the survey was to assess what changes, if any, in caries prevalence may have taken place as a result of the provision of free dental restorative services for these children since 1974. The 1983 prevalence data were compared with data obtained from a caries survey conducted in 1970 in the same areas in Iceland. The same examiner performed all examinations in both studies. Although considerable increase was noted in number of filled teeth with a corresponding decrease in carious and missing teeth, a statistically significant change in caries prevalence, (dft, dfs, DMFT, DMFS) did not manifest itself. The dfs and DMFS in 1983 was 8.9 and 9.5, respectively, compared to 8.5 and 10.4 in 1970. Over 90% of the toothpaste used in Iceland during the 1970's contained fluoride. The children in the three study areas had not been provided with any public preventive programs.

Torus palatinus in Icelandic schoolchildren

Three populations in South- and North-Thingeyjarsýslas, Northeast Iceland, were surveyed for the presence of torus palatinus. A total of 987 schoolchildren (489 male and 487 female) were examined. A statistically significant difference was noted between the prevalence in South-Thingeyjarsýsla (33.3%) and North-Thingeyjarsýsla (14.6%). Prevalence and size were affected by age and population but not by sex. An association between torus palatinus and torus mandibularis was not found. Secular changes in the occurrence of torus palatinus in Icelanders emphasize the importance of environmental etiological factors and diminish the value of torus palatinus as a racial trait.

A baseline study of periodontal conditions among youths and adults in Portugal

A study was undertaken in 1979 to obtain baseline data of periodontal disease and treatment needs among rural and urban Portuguese. From Montemor-o-Novo, Alentejo and from Lisbon, 255 persons (121 males, 134 females) aged 15-44 yr were selected by a stratified quota sampling method and examined under field conditions using both Russell's Periodontal Index (P.I.), slightly modified, and components of a proposed new WHO method. The latter formed the basis for estimation of treatment need according to the Community Periodontal Index for Treatment Needs (CPITN). Periodontal disease as assessed by the P.I. exhibited epidemiologic characteristics which in several respects were similar to those reported in other populations. Severity increased with increasing age and there were trends towards more severe disease in males than in females, and more severe disease in rural than in urban districts. Relatively few cases of advanced periodontitis were detected by the P.I. as applied in this study. The underestimation of disease prevalence inherent in the scoring method, the high tooth mortality and the fact that only relatively young individuals were studied may have contributed to this finding. Great need for various types of periodontal therapy were found through CPITN assessments. However, relatively few individuals were in need of "complex periodontal therapy" as assessed by the CPITN.

Alveolar bone loss in relation to periodontal treatment need, socioeconomic status and dental health

The distance from cemento-enamel junction to alveolar crest was studied in relation to periodontal treatment need, socioeconomic factors and dental health. The subjects (315) of the study were employees of a paper mill in Finland. Alveolar crest height was measured from orthopantomograms, periodontal treatment need was assessed by the Periodontal Treatment Need System (PTNS). Number of teeth, interproximal fillings and caries were determined clinically, and background information was obtained by questionnaires. On an average, the rate of alveolar bone loss was 0.6 mm in 10 years in the study population and 1.2 mm in subjects aged 30 to 45 years. The bone loss increased with decreasing number of teeth. Subjects with plaque retention had somewhat more severe bone loss than those with no inflammation or gingival inflammation only. Periodontal treatment need, age and number of remaining teeth altogether explained 42.8% of the bone loss when tested by multiple linear regression analysis.

The need for periodontal treatment in relation to socioeconomic status and health behavior

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%).

Evaluation of periodontal status in a Finnish industrial population

Occurrence of periodontal disease was investigated in an industrial population by a modified Peridontal Treatment Need System (PTNS). The study comprised an initial clinical examination and a follow-up examination of 165 persons 1 year later. The reproducibility of the modified PTNS was satisfactory; in a subsample studied twice the weighted kappa with its 99% confidence limits was 0.80 +/- 0.18. Only 3% of the dentulous subjects had no treatment need because of gingival or periodontal disease in the first clinical examination, in spite of the low mean age (33.2 years) of the population. The periodontium of the maxillary teeth was significantly (P less than 0.001) than that in the mandibular teeth, but there were no significant differences between right and left side of jaws. During the 1-year follow-up period the periodontal condition of 23% of subjects improved, whereas in 9% it deteriorated.

Periodontal treatment need in a Finnish industrial population

A periodontal study was conducted in a paper mill in Finland. To adapt the Periodontal Treatment Need System (PTNS) to a Finnish adult population the estimates of Finnish periodontologists were used. The mean estimate of periodontal treatment need was 97 +/- 58 (s.d.) min per person and 32 +/- 18 min per jaw segment. Periodontal treatment need increased with age. No significant differences in periodontal treatment need by sex, education, type of employment, regularity of working hours or frequency of dental visits were observed. Adjusted family income and toothbrushing frequency did not produce significant differences in periodontal treatment need, except in the group having four dentulous jaw segments. The groups using sugar, other sweetening agents or neither of these, mainly in coffee or tea, differed significantly: the non-users of sugar had lowest treatment time and those who used other sweetening agents than sugar had highest treatment time.

Periodontal disease and oral hygiene in Arussi province, Ethiopia

A dental health survey was conducted in the Arussi province in Ethiopia. The survey comprised 1,700 persons between 6 and 54 years of age in five age groups from four regions of the province. Findings concerning periodontal disease and oral hygiene are reported in the present paper. The onset of periodontal disease was early, with 60% of the children in the 6-7 year group having gingivitis. In general, periodontal disease was found in a majority of the surveyed population (83%). Severe periodontal destruction was, however, unusual before the age of 30, but at the age of 45-54 years 52% of the sample exhibited pocket formation. The level of periodontal disease in Ethiopia was judged as low to moderate. A close relationship was observed between oral cleanliness and periodontal condition. A possible favorable influence of the diet and traditional oral cleaning methods is conceivable.

Oral conditions in a population of young adults in Strasbourg

The oral conditions of 1,993 young adults, 16-30 years old, constituting a statistically representative random sample of the population of Strasbourg, were studied. Plaque, calculus, and gingival indices were determined as well as DMFT and DMFS caries indices. All these indices showed a highly statistically significant linear correlation with age. Sex had a significant influence on caries indices but not on plaque, calculus, or gingival indices. Socioprofessional conditions had a very significant influence on caries and gingival indices but not much on plaque index and not at all on calculus index.

Dental prophylaxis procedures in control of periodontal disease in Lucknow (rural) India

Frequent professional scaling and regular tooth brushing are the main public health measures available for preventing and controlling periodontal disease but their frequency and efficacy are still incompletely understood. This investigation was carried out on 1,416 rural children and 189 factory workers in Lucknow area in the age groups 14 +/- 1, 17 +/- 1 and 28 +/- 2 years of age to evaluate the optimum requirement of these measures to the extent they will be economical and usable in the public health programs. The prevalence of gingivitis and periodontal disease in Lucknow children and adult samples was found to vary between 93 to 100%. Periodontal disease (including gingivitis and loss of attachment) and calculus accumulation showed considerable reduction (P less than 0.01) with any type of treatment. Scaling alone will not reduce the plaque formation for which regular tooth brushing is essential. Yearly and half-yearly scaling along with tooth brushing instructions will considerably improve and maintain the oral hygiene thereby reducing the prevalence and severity of periodontal disease, plaque, and calculus accumulations. However, more intensive measures (quarterly prophylaxis) will further improve the periodontal health and reduce calculus accumulation. The apical migration of the epithelial attachment can practically be stopped by rendering scaling half yearly, without any instructions in oral hygiene and elimination of dental plaque.