A study titled “Prevalence of Periodontis in Adults in the United States: 2009 and 2010,” published in the Journal of Dental Research, has concluded nearly half the adult population of the United States over the age of 30 had periodontitis. The study is the first national probability sample that has employed a full-mouth periodontal examination protocol versus previous partial mouth examinations. The results have horrified experts, as estimates are far higher than previous national estimates.
Lead author Paul Eke, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, estimates the prevalence, severity and extent of periodontitis in the adult U.S population using data from the 2009 and 2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) cycle.
Estimates were derived from a sample of 3,742 adults 30 years and older with one or more natural teeth of the civilian non-institutionalized population. Attachment loss and probing depth were measured at six sites per tooth on all teeth (except the third molars).
Of the sample presented, 47.2 per cent, representing 64.7 million adults, had periodontitis distributed as 8.7 per cent, 30.0 per cent and 8.5 per cent with mild, moderate and severe periodontitis respectively. For adults 65 years and older, 64 per cent had either moderate or severe periodontitis. These
Periodontitis was highest in males, Mexican Americans, adults with less than high school education, adults below 100 per cent Federal Poverty Levels, and current smokers. This survey has provided direct evidence for a high burden of periodontitis in the adult U.S. population, especially among adults 65 and older.
“The IADR/AADR Journal of Dental Research is pleased to publish this study about the prevalence of periodontis in adult Americans,” said JDR Editor-in-Chief William Giannobile. “This study provides an in-depth look at the sociodemographic breakdown of periodontal disease in U.S. adults.”
A perspective article titled “The prevalence of periodontics in the US: Forget what you were told” was written by Panos Papapanou, Columbia University. In it, Papapanou writes that the data presented by Eke et al. challenge us to rethink certain issues and to conduct the appropriate research that will produce evidence-based answers.
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It is interesting that dental hygienists in Australia have a zero tolerance for bleeding as part of the perio health protocols whereas we have been told at conferences (albeit a Masters of Dentistry conference 2006) that 6 points of bleeding in the US is acceptable. Perhaps not!!!