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. 2018 Jul;149(7):576-588.e6.
doi: 10.1016/j.adaj.2018.04.023.

Periodontitis in US Adults: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009-2014

Paul I Eke, Gina O Thornton-Evans, Liang Wei, Wenche S Borgnakke, Bruce A Dye, Robert J Genco

Periodontitis in US Adults: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009-2014

Paul I Eke et al. J Am Dent Assoc. 2018 Jul.

Abstract

Background: This report presents weighted average estimates of the prevalence of periodontitis in the adult US population during the 6 years 2009-2014 and highlights key findings of a national periodontitis surveillance project.

Methods: Estimates were derived for dentate adults 30 years or older from the civilian noninstitutionalized population whose periodontitis status was assessed by means of a full-mouth periodontal examination at 6 sites per tooth on all non-third molar teeth. Results are reported according to a standard format by applying the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/American Academy of Periodontology periodontitis case definitions for surveillance, as well as various thresholds of clinical attachment loss and periodontal probing depth.

Results: An estimated 42% of dentate US adults 30 years or older had periodontitis, with 7.8% having severe periodontitis. Overall, 3.3% of all periodontally probed sites (9.1% of all teeth) had periodontal probing depth of 4 millimeters or greater, and 19.0% of sites (37.1% of teeth) had clinical attachment loss of 3 mm or greater. Severe periodontitis was most prevalent among adults 65 years or older, Mexican Americans, non-Hispanic blacks, and smokers.

Conclusions: This nationally representative study shows that periodontitis is a highly prevalent oral disease among US adults.

Practical implications: Dental practitioners should be aware of the high prevalence of periodontitis in US adults and may provide preventive care and counselling for periodontitis. General dentists who encounter patients with periodontitis may refer these patients to see a periodontist for specialty care.

Keywords: Adults; NHANES; United States; epidemiology; periodontal diseases; periodontitis; population surveillance.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Prevalence of periodontitis classified by the CDC/AAP (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/American Academy of Periodontology) case definitions according to age among dentate adults 30 years or older: total (mild, moderate, or severe; aqua), mild (brown), moderate (green), and severe (dark blue) periodontitis—National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009–2014 (N = 10,683).
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Prevalence of periodontitis severity categorized by minimum clinical attachment loss according to age among dentate adults 30 years or older: 3 millimeters or greater (aqua), 4 mm or greater (orange), 5 mm or greater (green), 6 mm or greater (black), and 7 mm or greater (purple)—National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009–2014 (N = 10,683).
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Prevalence of periodontitis severity categorized by minimum periodontal probing depth according to age among dentate adults 30 years or older: 3 millimeters or greater (aqua), 4 mm or greater (orange), 5 mm or greater (green), 6 mm or greater (black), and 7 mm or greater (purple)—National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009–2014 (N = 10,683).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

  • Study questions.
    DiBenedetto D. DiBenedetto D. J Am Dent Assoc. 2019 Apr;150(4):241. doi: 10.1016/j.adaj.2019.02.019. J Am Dent Assoc. 2019. PMID: 30922451 No abstract available.
  • Defining periodontitis.
    Finkelman RD. Finkelman RD. J Am Dent Assoc. 2019 Apr;150(4):241-242. doi: 10.1016/j.adaj.2019.02.020. J Am Dent Assoc. 2019. PMID: 30922452 No abstract available.
  • Authors' response.
    Eke PI, Borgnakke WS. Eke PI, et al. J Am Dent Assoc. 2019 Apr;150(4):242-243. doi: 10.1016/j.adaj.2019.02.021. J Am Dent Assoc. 2019. PMID: 30922453 No abstract available.

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