Explanatory models for clinical and subjective indicators of periodontal disease in an adult population

• Background: The aim of this study was to analyze indicators of periodontal disease using: (1) community periodontal index of treatment needs (CPITN), (2) subjectively reported change of front teeth position, and 3) subjectively reported gingival bleeding. Method: These 3 indicators were used in models with explanatory variables from 4 domains: (A) socio-economic attributes, (B) general health and health-related lifestyle, (C) dental attitudes and behaviors, and (D) dental status expressed as (number of teeth and DFT) for the clinically-determined dependent variables. In 1992, the study was carried out cross-sectionally in all 50-year olds in 2 Swedish counties using a questionnaire (n=6343) and clinical investigation of a 20% subsample (n=1040). Results: Multiple and logistic regression analysis showed that explanatory patterns varied for the clinical and subjective indicators. Use of tobacco had strong effects in all models as did high care utilization. There were few associations with socio-economic attributes. The 2 subjective indicators "changed front position" and "gingival bleeding" associated with attitudes, behaviors and subjective health. Number of teeth and DFT covaried with clinical indicators. Conclusions: The main conclusions from this study are: (1) that it is possible to find multivariate models with acceptable goodness of fit for prediction of occurrence of periodontal indicators, and (2) that the lack of relation between social attributes and the disease gives arguments for a biological provenance of periodontitis.

Nyckelord

CPITN measurement; periodontal disease; questionnaire data; regression analysis

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MEDICIN

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