title: Significance of epidemiologic research in the understanding of periodontal disease.
abstract: This review describes the development of periodontal index systems which during the last 50 yr have made it possible to gradually expand our understanding of the etiology and pathogenesis of periodontal diseases. Modern epidemiologic research on the prevalence and severity of periodontal diseases is based on a substantial amount of scientific data collected since the early 1940's. The work of a number of innovative researchers has eventually resulted in the clarification of one unsolved problem after the other. At the same time new ideas have been developed for the inclusion of public health aspects in the epidemiologic analyses. The assessment of periodontal treatment needs has become an issue of great importance in many countries of the world and has initiated a discussion and studies on the role of the possibilities for self-assessment of treatment needs. A completely new area of interest has developed when recent epidemiologic surveys demonstrated a substantial increase in the numbers of elderly people together with a substantial increase in the number of teeth per elderly person.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ainamo
mesh_terms: D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D006801:Humans; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D010512:Periodontal Index; D012106:Research