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Observational Study
. 2022 Apr;168(2):132-135.
doi: 10.1136/bmjmilitary-2020-001419. Epub 2020 Mar 5.

Prevalence and severity of periodontal disease among Spanish military personnel

Millán Bárcena García  1 , J M Cobo Plana  2 , P I Arcos González  3
Affiliations
Observational Study

Prevalence and severity of periodontal disease among Spanish military personnel

Millán Bárcena García et al. BMJ Mil Health. 2022 Apr.

Abstract

Introduction: Periodontal disease ranges from simple gums inflammation to major damage to the periodontal tissues, even losing teeth. Severe periodontitis has a world overall prevalence of 11.2%. These are evaluated with periodontal probes and oral epidemiological indices. Our aim is to estimate the prevalence and severity of periodontal disease of a Spanish military population according to the 2013 WHO criteria.

Methods: Observational study of prevalence carried out in a representative random sample of 221 military staff from the Spanish Army base 'Conde de Gazola'. Prevalence was estimated by calculating the Community Periodontal Index modified, loss of attachment, Plaque Index and Gingival Bleeding Index measured with a third-generation electronic 'Pa-on' periodontal probe.

Results: Averages of probing depth, recession and clinical attachment level were 2.17, 0.19 and 2.36 mm. Plaque and gingival bleeding indices were 71% and 40.3%. All subjects bled in some tooth after probing. 3.6% of subjects had no periodontal pockets, 58.8% mild periodontal pockets and 37.1% severe periodontal pockets. All had some loss of attachment, 52% mild loss of attachment and 47.5% severe loss of attachment. Teeth present with and without bleeding were 24.4 (86.5%) and 3.6 (13.1%). 28% of teeth had periodontal pockets and 40.4% loss of attachment. Sextant averages with periodontal pockets and loss of attachment were 2.79 and 3.56.

Conclusions: Our plaque and gingival bleeding indices were high and we found a higher prevalence and severity of periodontal disease than other Spanish and foreign military populations. This could be related to differences in context, life habits and insufficient dental hygiene.

Keywords: epidemiology; oral medicine; preventive medicine.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Dispersion diagram for plaque index and bleeding on probing. R=0.383 (p=0.000). R=Pearson correlation coefficient.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Dispersion diagram for probing depth and bleeding on probing. R=0.453 (p=0.000). R=Pearson correlation coefficient.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Dispersion diagram for clinical attachment level and bleeding on probing. R=0361 (p=0000). R=Pearson correlation coefficient.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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