Effectiveness of the salivary occult blood test as a screening method for periodontal status.
BACKGROUND
Community-based periodontal examinations are not popular despite the high prevalence of periodontal disease among adults. This study examines the effectiveness of a novel salivary occult blood test (SOBT) as a screening method for periodontal status.


METHODS
Comprehensive health examinations were conducted in adult residents aged ≥40 years in Hisayama, Fukuoka, Japan; 1,998 subjects, each with ≥20 teeth, were analyzed. A paper test strip was used to perform the SOBT and was followed by a periodontal examination. Results were ranked as negative or positive. Subjects with ≥15% of teeth with bleeding on probing (BOP) or ≥1 tooth with a probing depth (PD) ≥4 mm were defined as having a poor periodontal status. The relationship between the results of the SOBT and periodontal parameters and among other variables was examined.


RESULTS
The sensitivity and specificity of the SOBT in screening for poor periodontal status were 0.72 and 0.52, respectively. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, the results of the SOBT were significantly associated with the proportion of teeth with BOP and the proportion of teeth with PD ≥4 mm, independent of age, sex, use of antihypertensive medication, use of antidiabetic medication or insulin therapy, and the number of decayed or filled teeth.


CONCLUSIONS
The SOBT may offer a simple screening method for periodontal status when a thorough periodontal examination is not possible, although it is not sufficiently specific to be a reasonable substitute for a periodontal examination.
Section of Preventive and Public Health Dentistry, Division of Oral Health, Growth, and Development, Faculty of Dental Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan. shima@dent.kyushu-u.ac.jp
Yoshihiro
Y
Shimazaki
Sumio
S
Akifusa
Toru
T
Takeshita
Yukie
Y
Shibata
Yasufumi
Y
Doi
Jun
J
Hata
Toshiharu
T
Ninomiya
Yoichiro
Y
Hirakawa
Yutaka
Y
Kiyohara
Yoshihisa
Y
Yamashita
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009780:Occult Blood; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012463:Saliva