Risk indicators for tooth loss due to periodontal disease in Pakistani adults

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to identify risk indicators for periodontitis using cross sectional data from a group of Pakistani adults. The study group consisted of 426 individuals, aged between 18-75 years old. All extractions were performed in two dental hospitals over a 30 day period. Documented information included patient age and gender, medical history findings, dental care visit history, tooth brushing frequency, types and number of extracted teeth, history of menopause and the reasons for the extraction. Reasons were divided into periodontal disease versus other reasons in multiple logistic regression analysis. A total of 426 patients had 486 teeth extracted. More teeth per patient were lost due to periodontal disease than for other reasons [1.32 +/- 0.6 versus 1.05 +/- 0.2, P <0.001]. Factors significantly associated with tooth loss due to periodontal reasons in logistic regression analysis were age >35 years [OR 6.36; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.63-1.72], smokers [OR 1.09; 95% CI 1. 78 to 1.85], anterior tooth type [OR 3.71; 95% CI 1.82 to 1.89], and the presence of either of the following medical conditions diabetes mellitus [OR 2.65; 95% C11.85 to 1.91], hypertension [OR 10.32; 95% CI 1.88 to 1.93], cardiovascular disease[OR 14.7 ;95%1.94 tol.98] or rheumatoid arthritis [OR 10.22; 95% CI 1.96 to 1.99] and Menopause [OR 5.2 P <0.001]. Our data suggests that tooth loss due to periodontal disease is associated with the risk indicators of age, smoking, dental care visits, frequency of tooth brushing, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis, menopause and anterior tooth type, in this study group