Periodontal status, sociodemographic, and behavioral indicators in subjects attending a public dental school in Brazil: analysis of clinical attachment loss

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence, extent, and severity of clinical attachment loss (AL) and their association with sociodemographic and behavioral parameters of subjects attending a public dental school in Brazil.

Methods: A total of 491 consenting participants (21 to 70 years of age) submitted to a full-mouth periodontal clinical examination, assessment of missing teeth, and anamnesis questionnaires. The data were analyzed by multivariable models using logistic regression analyses. The dependent variables were moderate (> or =5 mm) and severe (> or =7 mm) clinical AL.

Results: The prevalence of individuals with at least one site with clinical AL > or =5 or > or =7 mm was 72.1% and 60.9%, respectively. The mean clinical AL ranged from 2.9 to 3.9 mm, according to age. The mean frequency of sites with moderate (5 to 6 mm) and severe (> or =7 mm) clinical AL was 15.8% and 9.1%, respectively. Multivariate analyses identified smoking (odds ratio [OR] = 8.93), bleeding on probing (BOP) in >10% of sites (OR = 6.82 to 22.53), and > or =4 missing teeth (OR = 2.52) as risk indicators for clinical AL > or =5 mm in > or =10% of sites, whereas an age of 36 to 50 years (OR = 1.72), smoking (OR = 7.66), and BOP in >10% of sites (OR = 6.84 to 24.89) were considered risk indicators for clinical AL > or =7 mm in at least one site.

Conclusions: This particular Brazilian population presented a high prevalence and extent of severe periodontal disease. Age, smoking, and BOP were risk indicators associated with moderate and severe AL in this population.