Periodontal disease among 45-54 year olds in Adelaide, South Australia.
BACKGROUND
The aims of this study were to describe the prevalence, extent and severity of periodontal disease among middle-aged adults, and to examine periodontitis by dental visit pattern, dental and health behaviour, socio-demographics and socioeconomic status.


METHODS
A random sample of 45-54 year olds from metropolitan Adelaide, South Australia was surveyed by mailed self-complete questionnaire during 2004-2005 with up to four follow-up mailings of the questionnaire to non-respondents (n=879 responded, response rate = 43.8 per cent). Oral examinations were performed on 709 people who responded to the questionnaire (completion rate=80.7 per cent), providing an assessment of periodontal status.


RESULTS
Prevalence of loss of attachment (LOA) of 6+ mm was 19.2 per cent, extent of sites with LOA of 6+ mm was 1.3 per cent, and severity of LOA of sites with LOA of 2+ mm was 2.4mm. Using a case definition for periodontitis of two or more sites with LOA of 5+ mm and one or more sites with PD of 4+ mm in a multivariate logistic regression showed higher odds of periodontitis for people who last visited for relief of pain (OR = 1.93) and who smoked daily/occasionally (OR = 3.84), while lower odds were observed for people who were born in Australia (OR = 0.51) and spoke English as the main language at home (OR = 0.34).


CONCLUSIONS
While periodontal disease was related to visit pattern and health-related behaviours, the relationship with place of birth and main language spoken at home indicated socio-cultural variation in disease not explained by behaviour among this cohort of 45-54 year olds.
Brennan
D S
DS
Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health, School of Dentistry, The University of Adelaide, South Australia. david.brennan@adelaide.edu.au
Spencer
A J
AJ
Roberts-Thomson
K F
KF
D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D005889:Gingival Recession / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009819:Office Visits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013021:South Australia / Q000453:epidemiology