Newsletter
CHICAGO, Ill., USA: A recent study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has demonstrated the high incidence of periodontitis in the U.S. adult population. It found that almost 50 percent of adults over 30 suffer from some form of periodontal disease, which was found to be significantly high among men, older people, Mexican-Americans, adults with less than a high school education, adults living in poverty and smokers.
The researchers established that more people have periodontitis than previously thought, as the study found that 47.2 percent (64.7 million) of adults in the country had periodontitis, with 8.7 percent suffering from mild, 30 percent from moderate and 8.5 percent from severe periodontitis. For adults aged 65 years and older, prevalence rates increased to 70.1 percent.
In addition, the researchers found significant differences throughout certain segments of the population. Prevalence was higher among men (56.4 percent compared with 38.4 percent of women). Periodontitis was most common among Mexican-Americans (66.7 percent), current smokers (64.2 percent), people with a lower educational level (66.9 percent) and people living below the federal poverty level (65.4 percent).
Data for the study was obtained from the CDC's 2009 and 2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which also assessed the health and nutritional status of 3,742 adults aged 30 years and older, part of the civilian population and with one or more natural teeth. The survey included a full-mouth periodontal examination for the first time, rendering it the most accurate investigation of periodontal disease in the U.S. adult population to date, according to Dr. Pamela McClain, president of the American Academy of Periodontology.
"Periodontal disease is associated with age and as Americans live longer and retain more of their natural teeth, periodontal disease may take on more prominence in the oral health of the U.S. adult population in the future," said Paul Eke, lead author of the study and CDC epidemiologist. "Our findings support a need for public health programs to improve the oral health of adults," he added.
The study was published online on Aug. 30 in the Journal of Dental Research ahead of print.
