Socio-economic risk indicators for apical periodontitis

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to reveal possible socio-economic risk indicators for apical periodontitis.

Material and methods: In 1992-93 a representative sample of women in Göteborg, Sweden, aged 38-84 years, participated in a medical and dental survey (n=981) which included dental and medical examinations and dental radiographic examination (OP). The dependent variable was apical periodontitis (AP=0, AP>0). The independent variables were age, number of teeth, number of restored teeth, number of root-filled teeth, number of teeth with carious lesions, satisfactory masticatory function, and dental esthetics as crude measures of self-reported dental health, dental anxiety, time elapsed since last visit to a dental office, regular dental visiting habits, smoking, alcohol habits, and marital status. A subjective evaluation of economy, health and life situation (acceptable or poor) was accounted for as socio-economic variables. The oldest age group, women born 1908, and edentulous individuals were omitted, leaving 844 subjects for analysis. Statistical analysis included multivariate logistic regression, chi-squared test, and independent t-test for comparison of group characteristics (AP=0 vs AP>0).

Results: For socio-economic variables there was a significant association between acceptable health and apical periodontitis (OR=1.72 (CI=1.09-2.70)). For oral-related variables, root-filled teeth (OR=1.17 (CI=1.10-1.23)) and teeth with carious lesions (OR=1.48 (CI=1.19-1.85)) were predictive of apical periodontitis.

Conclusions: In the present study, socio-economic variables and dental visiting habits did not appear to have obvious implications for periapical health, whereas root-filled teeth and carious lesions were associated with apical periodontitis.