Researchers found that tooth loss due to periodontal disease is associated with the risk indicators of age, male gender, smoking, lack of professional maintenance, inadequate oral hygiene, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis and anterior tooth type.
"In this study we evaluated 1,775 patients who had 3,694 teeth extracted," said Dr. Khalaf F. Al-Shammari, Ministry of Health, Kuwait. "More teeth per patient were lost due to periodontal disease than for any other reason (those with periodontal disease lost 2.8 teeth versus 1.8 teeth lost for those without periodontal disease)."
Periodontal disease accounted for the majority of tooth extractions in patients older than 35 years (57 percent of teeth were lost for periodontal reasons compared to 43 percent lost for other reasons). Other findings are as follows:
"Risk assessment is an important component of modern dental therapy," said Kenneth A. Krebs, DMD and AAP president. "Identification of subjects with the greatest risk for periodontal disease severity and progression is essential for the proper allocation of preventive therapeutic measures to those individuals who would benefit most from such measures."
Periodontal disease is one of the main causes of tooth loss worldwide. Periodontal therapy has proven to be effective in reducing the rate of tooth loss and establish the importance of patient compliance with maintenance therapy and proper oral hygiene measures.
The American Academy of Periodontology is an 8,000-member association of dental professionals specializing in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the gums and supporting structures of the teeth and in the placement and maintenance of dental implants. Periodontics is one of nine dental specialties recognized by the American Dental Association.
EDITOR'S NOTE: A copy of the study "Risk Indicators for Tooth Loss Due to Periodontal Disease" is available to the media by contacting the AAP Public Affairs Department at 312/573-3244. The public and/or non-AAP members can view a study abstract online, and the full-text of the study may be accessed online for $20.00 at http://www.joponline.org/
Journal of Periodontology