title: Changes in periodontal disease indicators in 35-year-old Oslo citizens from 1973 to 1984.
abstract: Periodontal disease indicators were evaluated according to the periodontal treatment need system (PTNS) in random samples of 35-year-old citizens of Oslo in 1973 and 1984. The study indicated that although periodontal disease was a common finding in both samples, there was a significant reduction in score C (indicating need for complex periodontal treatment) in 1984 compared to 1973. Whereas 37.9% of the subjects showed inflamed pockets deeper than 5 mm (score C) in 1973, only 22.9% scored C in 1984 (non-Caucasians excluded). This reduction was most pronounced in females. The mean number of C-quadrants in subjects needing complex periodontal treatment was also reduced from 2.0 in 1973 to 1.7 in 1984. Further analyses of the 1984 sample showed that the mean number of C-quadrants was significantly lower in subjects with low OHI-S scores and in regular dental visitors, whereas sex, years at school, toothbrushing frequency, interdental cleaning habits, previous periodontal therapy, self-experienced need for treatment, health attitude or smoking habits, did not seem to influence the prevalence of score C.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Diagnosis, Dental Faculty, University of Oslo.
authors.forename: B F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bjertness
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gjermo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003728:Dental Calculus / Q000453:epidemiology; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D005260:Female; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D009911:Oral Hygiene Index; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000453:epidemiology; D011897:Random Allocation