RESUMO
Periodontal disease like dental caries is an important cause of loss of teeth in our country. 1400 army personnel aged 18-52 years were examined for their periodontal disease status and type of periodontal treatment required by recording Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs [CPITN]. Results showed that 98% of the subjects suffered from varying degrees of periodontal disease ranging from mild gingivitis to advanced periodontitis. 64% of subjects required simple treatment like scaling or oral prophylaxis and oral hygiene improvement. 31% required complex periodontal treatment including surgery due to the advanced disease. As bacterial plaque plays a major role in the aetiology of periodontal disease, effective plaque control procedures can prevent and arrest the disease progression