title: The need for periodontal treatment in relation to socioeconomic status and health behavior.
abstract: Socioeconomic factors, detal status, health behaviour and some environmental factors were scrutinized in relation to the need for periodontal treatment. A linear multiple regression model was fitted to test which variables best explain the need of periodontal treatment. The subjects (315) of the study were employees of a paper mill in Finland. The periodontal status was classified according to a modified Periodontal Treatment Need System. The data on background variables was collected by a self-administered questionnaire. About 30% of the treatment need could be explained with the above factors. The order of the factors determining the periodontal treatment need was: number of teeth (13.3%), age (13.2%), education (0.9%), toothbrushing frequency (0.6%), and use of chewing gum (0.3%).
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001294:Attitude to Health; D004245:DMF Index; D003753:Dental Health Surveys; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014070:Tooth / Q000033:anatomy & histology