Periodontal status and treatment needs in a rural area of Ukonga, Tanzania.

The study reported here assessed the periodontal status in Ukonga using the CPITN index in the oral health survey data collected in 1988, and subsequently estimated the treatment needs in relation to Tanzanian circumstances. The resultant calculations showed that the estimated need was far greater than the dental services could supply. The authors therefore question whether or not all persons with a positive CPITN score do need treatment and speculate that there may be a more realistic approach using other models.

Risk factors for periodontal diseases in Ilala, Tanzania.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate associations between periodontal diseases and the common risk factors in Ilala, Tanzania. To determine behavioural and socioeconomic background, a total of 1764 subjects (827 males and 937 females) aged 3-84 years were randomly selected and interviewed. The subjects were examined clinically for the presence of plaque, calculus, gingival inflammation, periodontal probing depths and gingival recessions. Logistic regression analyses showed that the risk factors for gingivitis were male sex, presence of plaque or calculus and use of local "mswaki", the risk factors for periodontal pockets were age of 35 years or more, presence of plaque, and rural residence. The risk factors for gingival recession were identified as age of 35 years or more, male sex, lower educational status, presence of plaque and gingival inflammation. The most significant risk factors to have periodontal diseases in this study population were age, sex, education, rural residence, plaque and calculus.

Dental caries and mutans streptococci in relation to plasma ascorbic acid.

Ascorbic acid (AA) affects in vitro growth of bacteria and may also act in vivo to decrease caries activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible association of AA level in plasma with number of caries lesions, relative numbers of some species of oral cariogenic flora, and rate of salivary secretion. The caries status and some bacteriologic variables of dentulous adult subjects with a low level of AA in the plasma (< or = 25 mumol/l; n = 75) were compared with those of controls (plasma level > or = 50 mumol/l; n = 75) matched for age, sex, and number of teeth. For each subject, site-specific recordings of the presence or absence of plaque, dental caries, fillings, and erosions were recorded clinically by the same dentist in a double-blind system. The amounts of visible plaque and numbers of decayed tooth surfaces were significantly higher in the low AA group than in the controls. No between-group differences were found in the number of fillings and the amount of oral bacterial growth. The frequencies of consumption of vegetables, berries, and other fruit were significantly lower in the low AA group than in the controls.

Periodontal health related to plasma ascorbic acid.

The exact relationship between plaque-induced periodontal diseases and vitamin C deficiency is not known. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible effect of ascorbic acid (AA) on the severity of periodontal diseases. The periodontal condition of 75 dentulous subjects with a low level of AA in the plasma (< or = 25 mumol/l) was compared with that of 75 control subjects (plasma level > or = 50 mumol/l) matched for age, sex and number of teeth. The subjects were asked to list foods containing AA in their diet, and intake of AA in milligrams per day was calculated. The daily diet of the study subjects contained on average 52 mg +/- 24.9 (SD) of AA, and that of the controls 77 mg +/- 43.2 (SD). For each individual, site-specific recordings for the presence or absence of plaque and supra- and subgingival calculus, filling overhangs, gingival bleeding after probing, probing pocket depth, and gingival recession were made clinically in a double blind examination carried out by one dentist. Five per cent of the subjects in the study group (low plasma level of AA) and 18 per cent of the controls had healthy periodontal tissues. The proportion of sites in which bleeding after probing and a probing pocket depth of 4 mm or over were observed was significantly higher in the study group than in the controls. Sixty per cent of the subjects in the study group and 37 per cent of the controls had pathological pockets of 4 mm or over.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)