title: A cross-sectional study on the relationship between behavioral variables and economic status in periodontal disease among elderly individuals.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objectives of this study were to examine the relationship between behavioral variables, such as smoking and level of income on the periodontal disease among older South Indian adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data pertaining to participants aged 55 years and above from the Outpatient Department of MR Ambedkar Dental College and Hospital were used. A total of 209 elderly subjects were selected by convenient sampling and a complete evaluation of their periodontal status was carried out.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our study showed that patients belonging to the lower income group and smokers had more severe disease compared to other groups. They were found to have higher plaque scores, higher calculus scores, deeper pockets and attachment loss compared to the subjects of the other groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Variables, such as smoking, gender and low income are associated with the severity of periodontal disease in older adults.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, KGF Dental College and Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. drprasannar@gmail.com
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Prasanna
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Chandan
authors.forename: Krishna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kripal
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Hari
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Adarsh
authors.forename: T Praveenkumar
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Reddy
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003728:Dental Calculus / Q000145:classification; D003729:Dental Care; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000145:classification; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000145:classification* / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000145:classification; D011203:Poverty; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking; D012923:Social Class