title: Prevalence of periodontal diseases among rural population of Mustabad, Krishna District.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  People in rural areas neglect oral health as they lack awareness on dental diseases and also due to inadequate availability of dental services. The prevalence of illiteracy is also a reason which can be attributed to a poor oral health. This epidemiological study is undertaken to assess the prevalence of periodontal diseases in the rural population of Mustabad - in Krishna, Andhra Pradesh.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study based on randomized sampling method was carried out using the WHO assessment form (1997) on a population of 470. The data were subjected to statistical analysis using Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 15.0.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The subjects were 220 males and 250 females. Maximum numbers of subjects were in the age group of 35-44 years (21.91%). Prevalence of periodontal disease was found to be 73.62%. The periodontal status deteriorated with aging. Prevalence of periodontitis was higher in females (56.35%) compared to males (43.65%). Males had a higher prevalence of deep pockets (3.18%), whereas females had a higher prevalence of shallow pockets (3.20%). Females had twice the bleeding tendency (18.80%) compared to males (8.64%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The increasing prevalence of periodontal diseases is an impending problem which needs immediate intervention, if not it would have a serious negative impact on the future oral health. The need of the hour is more epidemiological studies with a bigger sample are required.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics and Implantology, Dr. SNR Siddhartha Institute of Dental Sciences, Vijayawada, India.
authors.forename: Mulpuri V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Ramoji Rao
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, CKS Theja Institute of Dental Sciences and Research, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Pavan Kumar
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Katari
authors.affiliation: CKS Theja Institute of Dental Sciences and Research, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Lokesh
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vegi
authors.affiliation: CKS Theja Institute of Dental Sciences and Research, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Tarun Teja
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Bypureddy
authors.affiliation: Dr. SNR Siddhartha Institute of Dental Sciences, Vijayawada, India.
authors.forename: Koneru Samyuktha
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Prabhakara Rao
authors.affiliation: Dr. SNR Siddhartha Institute of Dental Sciences, Vijayawada, India.
authors.forename: Kanikanti Siva
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Tejaswi
keywords: Gender; oral health status; periodontal diseases; periodontitis; rural population