title: High levels of periodontal disease among the older adult population in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
abstract: The Puerto Rican Elderly Dental Health Study is the first to evaluate the periodontal status of a representative sample in Puerto Rico.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the periodontal status among the elderly population in San Juan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three dentists were trained and standardised by the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) reference examiner. They examined elders aged 70-97 in the San Juan area from participants in a representative cohort of the Puerto Rican elderly. Probing depth (PD), attachment loss (AL), and tooth mobility were assessed among the dentate participants on 4 sites on all teeth excluding third molars. We used the CDC-AAP definitions for moderate periodontitis (> or = 2 teeth with AL > or = 4mm at interproximal sites or > or = 2 teeth with PD > or = 5mm at interproximal sites) and severe periodontitis (> or = 2 teeth with AL > or = 6mm at interproximal sites and > or = 1 teeth with PD > or = 5mm at interproximal sites).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The participation rate was 47%, 183 individuals, mean age 77.9 (sd 5.9), and 67% were females. Mean number of teeth was 15.8 (sd 6.8), and tooth mobility was present in 18% of participants. Mean PD was 1.5 (sd 0.6) and mean AL was 2.8 mm (sd1.5). The prevalence of moderate and severe periodontitis (CDC-AAP) was 44.5% compared to 20.7% in the NHANES 1999-2004 survey among 75 years and older.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study showed high levels of severe and moderate periodontal disease among Puerto Rican older adults. Further research is needed to understand the reasons for the high prevalence.
authors.affiliation: 'School of Dentistry, University of Costa Rica.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montero-Aguilar
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Muñoz-Torres
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Elías-Boneta
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dye
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Joshipura
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011647:Puerto Rico / Q000453:epidemiology