A large-cohort study of 2971 cases of epulis: focusing on risk factors associated with recurrence.

BACKGROUND: To analyze the clinicopathological features of different histological subtypes of epulis, and evaluate the risk factors associated with recurrence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study including 2971 patients was performed. The patients' sex, age, location, size, histological subtypes, recurrence information, oral hygiene habits, periodontitis symptoms and smoking history were retrieved from the patient medical records and follow-up information. RESULTS: Among the 2971 cases, focal fibrous hyperplasia (FFH) was the most common lesion (60.92%), followed by peripheral ossifying fibroma (POF) (29.32%), pyogenic granuloma (PG) (8.08%) and peripheral giant cell granuloma (PGCG) (1.68%). The peak incidence of epulis was in the third and fourth decade of life, with a mean age of 45.55 years. Female predominance was found in all types of lesions with a female to male ratio of 1.71:1. PG had the highest recurrence rate (17.18%), followed by POF (12.98%), FFH (9.55%) and PGCG (8.82%). Histological subtypes were significantly correlated with the recurrence of epulis (P = 0.013). Regular supportive periodontal therapy (P = 0.050) had a negative correlation with recurrence, whereas symptoms of periodontitis (P < 0.001) had a positive correlation with the recurrence of epulis. CONCLUSIONS: Controlling the periodontal inflammation and regular supportive periodontal therapy might help reduce the recurrence of epulis.

Biopsied non-dental plaque-induced gingival diseases in a Chinese population: a single-institute retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: While inflammatory diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis induced by dental plaque biofilms constitute the majority of gingival lesions, gingiva can also be affected by a variety of diseases with aetiologies different from bacterial biofilms. The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze the frequency and distribution of non-dental plaque-induced gingival diseases (NDPIGDs) in the Chinese population in a single institute. METHODS: A total of 6859 samples of biopsied gingival diseases during the period 2000-2019 were obtained from the Department of Pathology, Peking University Hospital of Stomatology. Lesions were categorized by histopathological diagnosis, pathological characteristics and the new classification of gingival health and gingival diseases/conditions. Demographic information, such as gender, location, and age, were also analyzed. RESULTS: Among 6859 biopsied NDPIGD samples, the five most frequent diagnoses included oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC, n = 2094), fibrous hyperplasia (n = 2026), pyogenic granuloma (n = 478), epithelial dysplasia (n = 477), and epithelial hyperplasia/hyperkeratosis (n = 436). All types could be grouped into nine categories according to their pathological characteristics. The most common biopsied NDPIGDs category was "hyperplastic lesions" (n = 2648, 38.61%), followed by "malignant neoplasms" (n = 2275, 33.17%). The most common diagnosis types in each category were fibrous hyperplasia and OSCC. Of all NDPIGDs, most lesions could be categorized into the new classification of gingival health and gingival diseases/conditions; only 7.07% did not fit the current classification system. CONCLUSIONS: The present study is the first report on the frequency and distribution of biopsied NDPIGDs in a Chinese population. Unlike previous studies, the most prevalent categories were "hyperplastic lesions" and "malignant neoplasms". The proportion of "malignant neoplasms" and "oral potentially malignant disorders" was remarkably higher than in previous researches. Nevertheless, the study provided epidemiological information on many NDPIGDs, which could be useful for future health policies as well as screening programs.

Calidad de vida relacionada con la salud oral en una población venezolana en el Perú / Quality of life related to oral health in a Venezuelan population in Peru

OBJETIVO: El objetivo de la presente investigación está enfocado en evaluar la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud oral en una población venezolana en el Perú. MATERIAL Y METODOS: Se trata de un estudio analítico transversal realizado entre los meses de setiembre a noviembre del 2019 a la población de nacionalidad venezolana. Participaron un total de 880 nacionales venezolanos quienes participaron voluntariamente del estudio, de los cuales 45.9% (379) eran de sexo femenino y 54.1% (501) de sexo masculino. Se realizó un examen clínico a fin de determinar las variables clínicas: el índice CPOD, el índice de higiene oral y el índice gingival. Para evaluar la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud oral se utilizó el Perfil de Impacto en la Salud Oral OHIP-14 que consta de 49 preguntas agrupadas en 7 dimensiones que son la limitación funcional, dolor físico, disconfort psicológico, incapacidad física, incapacidad psicológica, incapacidad física y en desventaja. Para si se da un puntaje de 1 y no 0. Así, a un mayor puntaje se obtiene la calidad de vida es peor. RESULTADOS: La relación de la calidad de vida con salud se verifica que un total del 27% (116.869) fueron respuestas positivas y un 72% (31,434) respuestas negativas. CONCLUSIONES: En relación a la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud oral se obtuvo que la población estudiada tiene buena calidad de vida, representada por más de la mitad de los encuestados

AIM: The objective of the present investigation is focused one valuating the quality of life related to oral health in a Venezuelan population in Peru. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional analytical study carried out between the months of September and November of 2019 to the population of Venezuelan nationality. A total of 880 Venezuelan nationals participated who voluntarily participated in the study, of which 45.9% (379) were female and 54.1% (501) male. A clinical examination was performed to determine the clinical variables: the CPOD index, the oral hygiene index and the gingival index. To assess the quality of life related to oral health, check the OHIP-14 Oral Health Impact Profile, which consists of 49 questions grouped into 7 dimensions that are functional limitation, physical pain, psychological distress, physical disability, psychological disability, physical and disadvantaged disability For itself a score of 1 is given and not 0. Thus, a higher score gets the quality of life is worse. RESULTS: The relationship of quality of life with health verifies that a total of 27% (116,869) were positive responses and 72% (31,434) negative responses. CONCLUSIONS: Regarding the quality of life related to oral health, it was obtained that the population studied has a good quality of life, represented by more than half of the respondents

Oral health status of children with phenylketonuria.

Background Diet plays an integral role in the maintenance of oral health, but dietary modifications due to medical problems such as phenylketonuria (PKU) can have adverse effects on oral health. This descriptive study was performed to evaluate the oral health status of children with PKU. Methods One hundred and ninety-seven patients with PKU aged between 1 and 22 years were evaluated. Clinical evaluations were performed by one experienced dentist regarding dental caries, gingival health and dental erosion. Categorical variables were assessed with descriptive statistics. Differences in feeding frequencies and sociodemographic characteristics were compared regarding dental caries using chi-square (χ2) tests. Results One hundred and thirty-two patients (67%) had dental caries. The mean plaque index (PI) and gingival index (GI) values were 1.37 ± 0.58 and 1.40 ± 0.64, respectively, which shows moderate plaque accumulation and moderate gingival inflammation. Of the patients, 85.3% did not brush their teeth regularly and 90.4% had never visited a dentist before. No statistically significant differences were found in dental caries according to feeding frequencies (p = 0.448). Conclusions Despite the high prevalence of caries in patients with PKU, most had never seen a dentist. Physicians must encourage patients with PKU and their parents to have regular dental visits to maintain an optimal general and oral health.

Health symptoms among adults living near a coal-burning power plant.

Coal ash is a waste product generated when coal is burned for energy. The purpose of this study was to assess health symptoms in adults living near a coal-burning power plant and compare the symptoms to a non-exposed population. A community-based mixed methods study was conducted with four neighborhoods adjacent to a coal-burning power plant. The comparison population was not exposed to coal ash and did not live near a coal-burning power plant. Adults who lived near the coal-burning power plant were significantly more likely to suffer from respiratory (AOR = 5.27, 95% CI = 2.16-12.0), gingiva (AOR = 2.46, 95% CI = 1.46-4.15), and skin symptoms (AOR = 3.37, 95% CI = 2.09-5.43). Results suggest that health symptoms may develop in people living near coal-burning power plants.

Association between gingival parameters and Oral health-related quality of life in Caribbean adults: a population-based cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Good oral health has been associated with better quality of life and general health. In the Caribbean, there have been no studies regarding the association between oral health conditions and the quality of life of the population. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the association between gingival parameters and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in Caribbean adults. A secondary aim of the study was to gain more information on factors that impact OHRQoL in this population. METHODS: This cross-sectional, epidemiological, population-based study was conducted in community settings. After the participants with missing Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP) data were excluded, the sample size was 1821 (weighted according to the age and gender distribution in each target population). OHIP-14 standardized questionnaires were used to collect information. In addition, a medical/oral health questionnaire including sociodemographics, general health, dental visits, oral hygiene habits and knowledge, the frequency of dental visits, prosthesis use/hygiene, and smoking was administered. A multivariate model included predictors that showed significant associations in the univariate models. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported; statistical significance was set at 0.05. RESULTS: In the multivariate analysis, current smokers (OR = 2.34, 95% CI: 1.74-3.14 vs. never smokers), those who visited the dentist only when problems arose (OR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.13-2.40 vs. those visiting once a year), and participants with any chronic disease/condition (OR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.06-1.78) had higher odds of being in the highest tertile for OHIP score (poorer health). CONCLUSIONS: The present multicenter study identified potential modifiable risk factors for poor OHRQoL among adults in three Caribbean cities.

Intake of different alcoholic beverages and periodontal condition.

Objective: The objective of this study is to study the association of alcoholic beverages and serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) level with periodontal condition. Material and methods: The study included 4294 dentate, non-diabetic Finnish adults aged 30-65 years who underwent periodontal examination during the Health 2000 Survey. The number of teeth with deepened (≥4 mm) periodontal pockets was the outcome. The exposures were self-reported beverage-specific alcohol intake (amount and frequency) and serum GGT level. The relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were obtained by fitting zero-inflated negative binomial regression models. Results: We found no consistent association of either the intake of different alcoholic beverages or GGT level with the number of teeth with deepened periodontal pockets in the total study population or among the non-smokers. Among the highly educated non-smokers, spirit intake was associated with a low likelihood of having teeth with deepened periodontal pockets; RRs varied between 0.3 and 0.8. Among the non-smokers who had basic or intermediate education, spirit intake was associated with a higher likelihood of having teeth with deepened periodontal pockets; RRs varied between 1.2 and 1.8. Conclusion: In general, neither the intake of different alcoholic beverages nor the GGT level was consistently associated with the number of teeth with deepened periodontal pockets.

Rheumatoid arthritis patients' oral health and disease activity.

AIM: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and periodontal diseases (PD) are common chronic, inflammatory, destructive and progressive diseases that may have similar pathophysiological mechanisms and risk factors. RA affects more than 1.5% of the world's population, with a higher percentage of females than males. PD is present in around 20% of the population and has multifactorial etiology. The purpose of this study is to describe patients' self-reported oral health and the association with RA disease activity. METHOD: Three hundred patients under treatment for RA from the Division of Rheumatology, Clinical Medicine, North Jutland Region Hospital, Hjørring, Denmark and were eligible for the study. Questionnaires were emailed to the patients and 164 completed answers were received. RESULTS: The mean age of the group of 164 patients (61% female) was 65 ± 11 years. The average value of Disease Activity Score of 28 joints was 2.31 ± 0.83. Only 12% of responders were active smokers. Patients estimated their status of their teeth and gingiva respectively as poor in 13% and 11% of cases, good, in 46% and 49%, and excellent, both as 40%. Spontaneous and/or provoked gingival bleeding were experienced by 15% and 49% of patients. Only 14% of patients declared feelings of loose or movable teeth and 10% declared difficulties in biting or chewing. CONCLUSIONS: The status of oral cavity reported by Danish patients indicates a significant proportion with symptoms of gingival/periodontal disease, which may negatively influence RA activity and disease management. Cooperation between rheumatologists and dentists is important in oral health management in periodontal inflammation.

Prevalencia de la enfermedad gingival en adolescentes y su asociación con factores predisponentes. Manzanillo 2018 / Prevalence of gingival disease in adolescents and its association with predisposing factors. Manzanillo 2018

La gingivitis es la enfermedad periodontal más frecuente en niños y adolescentes, es un proceso inmunoinflamatorio reversible de los tejidos blandos que rodean al diente, está caracterizado por enrojecimiento, edema, sensibilidad y sangramiento gingival; la gravedad depende de la intensidad y duración de los factores de riesgo. Con el objetivo de determinar la prevalencia de la enfermedad gingival y su asociación con factores predisponentes como el hábito de fumar, higiene bucal y apiñamiento dentario, se realizó un estudio analítico transversal en adolescentes de 12 a 19 años de edad. Para el análisis estadístico se emplearon, medidas de asociación como prevalencia relativa,chi cuadrado (X2) y razón de productos cruzados (odd ratio); como resultado seobtuvo una prevalencia de la enfermedad gingival de 20.6 por ciento. A modo de conclusión es posible afirmar que la prevalencia de la enfermedad gingival estuvo asociada de forma significativa con el hábito de fumar y a la mala higiene bucal, destacándose el hábito de fumar como factor de mayor probabilidad de riesgo para el desarrollo de la enfermedad(AU)

Gingivitis is the most frequent periodontal disease in children and adolescents, it is a reversible immuno-inflammatory process of the soft tissues surrounding the tooth characterized by redness, edema, sensitivity and gingival bleeding, the severity depends on the intensity and duration of the risk factors, with the objective of determining the prevalence of gingival disease and its association with predisposing factors such as: smoking habit, oral hygiene and dental crowding. A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted in adolescents from 12 to 19 years of age. For the statistical analysis, association measures were used, such as relative prevalence, chi square (X2) and odds ratio. As a result, the prevalence of gingival disease was 20.7 percent and the prevalence of gingival disease was concluded, it was significantly associated with smoking and poor oral hygiene, being the smoking the most predisposing factor likely risk for disease development(EU)

Root surface caries among older Australians.

OBJECTIVES: Root caries has increased as a clinical problem in recent decades. However, the use of multiple waves of longitudinal follow-up data in estimating root caries increment has not been previously attempted. The aims of this study were to quantify root caries increment from a longitudinal study of older adults with 4 oral examinations over 11 years and to examine behavioural factors associated with root caries. METHODS: A secondary analysis was undertaken using data collected in 4 waves (baseline, 2-year, 5-year and 11-year) of the South Australian Dental Longitudinal Study which began in 1991/92. The study group consisted of a stratified random sample of people aged 60+ years at baseline. A total of 358 participants with complete oral examinations in all 4 waves were included. The examinations were performed by trained and calibrated dentists. Baseline behavioural risk factors (toothbrushing frequency, flossing frequency, dental visiting pattern, reason for dental visiting and tobacco smoking status) and time in years across the 4 waves were the main exposures. Baseline clinical oral conditions (gingival condition and gingival recession), demographic and socio-economic risk factors served as covariates. Root caries was measured as mean number of untreated root surfaces (root DS) and decayed/filled root surfaces (root DFS) at each wave of examinations. Multivariable multilevel growth model using linear regression analysis was used to get an estimate for root caries increment and associated oral health-related behaviours adjusting for all the covariates. RESULTS: Findings from the multivariable models indicated that the annual increment of root DS and root DFS were 0.07 (SE = 0.01) and 0.11 (SE = 0.02) surfaces, respectively. Irregular brushing (E [SE] = 0.25 [0.12]), visiting the dentist only for problems (E [SE] = 0.30 [0.13]) and smoking (E [SE] = 0.33 [0.12]) were risk factors for the increase in root DS. Irregular flossing and more frequent dental visit were associated with the increase in root DFS. CONCLUSIONS: Root caries increased slowly across time among relatively healthier Australian older adults. Irregular brushing, unfavourable dental visiting and tobacco smoking were risk factors for the increase in untreated root caries, while irregular flossing and more frequent dental visiting were associated with the increase in root DFS.

Distribution of biopsied non plaque-induced gingival lesions in a Chilean population according to the classification of periodontal diseases.

BACKGROUND: Many gingival lesions are not induced by plaque. The aim of this study was to analyze the frequency of biopsied non-plaque-induced gingival lesions (NPIGL) in a Chilean population. METHODS: One thousand twelve cases of biopsied gingival lesions with confirmed anatomopathologic diagnosis were included, from the records of the Oral Pathology Referral Institute (OPRI), Faculty of Dentistry, University of Chile, between years 1990 and 2009. RESULTS: The most frequent non plaque-induced gingival lesions categories from biopsied cases included hyperplastic lesions, malignancies and benign neoplasms. The most frequent diagnoses in each category were fibrous hyperplasia (35.47%), squamous cell carcinoma (3.85%) and giant cell fibroma (2.08%), respectively. From all lesions, only 8.3% fitted in the specified categories of the current classification of periodontal diseases. CONCLUSIONS: The most frequent biopsied NPIGL were hyperplastic lesions and neoplasms. These categories represent relevant lesions to be included in a future periodontal classification system to improve the care needs of the patients, as well as early diagnosis and treatment.

Oral health status associated with sociodemographic factors of Nepalese schoolchildren: a population-based study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the oral health of Nepalese schoolchildren relative to their sociodemographic characteristics. METHODS: This school-based, cross-sectional study was conducted among 5-6-, 12- and 15-year-old Nepalese children in 18 randomly selected districts of the 75 in Nepal. Clinical parameters were recorded according to the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Results were presented as mean (SD) and proportions; the chi-square test, t-test and one way-ANOVA were also performed. The risk of dental caries in association with the place of residence was presented according to the outcome of a binary logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The mean d-value for the 5-6-year-old children was 5.0 (4.22), which was higher than the mean D-values for the 12- and 15-year-old subjects, of 1.3 (1.77) and 1.9 (2.28), respectively. The youngest children, as well as children from the Kathmandu Valley, were likely to have more untreated caries lesions than children in the other age groups. The mean number of teeth with severe consequences of dental caries (pulpitis/ulceration/fistula/abscess or pufa/PUFA) was 1.3 (1.91) for the 5-6-year-old children, 0.1 (0.35) for the 12-year-old children and 0.3 (0.75) for the 15-year-old children. All age groups had gingival bleeding on probing in more than 15% of teeth. Children from rural locations had significantly more gingival bleeding than urban children. The same was true for 15-year-old girls compared with boys of the same age. CONCLUSIONS: Among Nepalese children, oral diseases are common, and geographical variation is prevalent. The health policy should address the alarming oral health situation and need for urgent treatment and population-based preventive programmes that is evident in Nepal.

Oral health status among children and adolescents in governmental and private schools of the Palestinian Territories.

BACKGROUND: Political conflicts in the Palestinian Territories (PT) have resulted in systematic deterioration of socio-economic conditions and health. The World Health Organization (WHO) has emphasised the negative impacts of social crisis on children' oral health and quality of life. OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence and trends in dental caries and poor gingival health of schoolchildren in the PT through the scholastic years 1998/1999 to 2012/2013. METHODS: This is a retrospective study. Prevalence data on dental caries of primary and permanent dentitions among children 6, 12 and 16 years of age were gathered from annual oral health reports of the School Dental Health Programme (SDHP)-Ministry of Health. Caries was recorded according to WHO methods and criteria. Decayed, missing and filled teeth indices for primary (dmft) and permanent (DMFT) teeth were calculated. Gingival health status was examined according to the Community Periodontal Index (scores 1 and 2). Statistical analysis used SPSS. RESULTS: In 2012/2013, dental caries prevalence rates and the index scores among schoolchildren were as follows, respectively: 56.4% and 2.7 dmft at age 6; 42.0% and 1.4 DMFT at age 12; and 38.7% and 1.7 DMFT at age 16. For all age groups, the d/D-component of the caries indices was high. Trends of dental-caries prevalence, caries experience and gingival bleeding were fairly constant over time from 1998/1999. CONCLUSION: The SDHP was established in order to prevent and control oral diseases among schoolchildren in the PT. The Programme is fairly passive and the survey indicates an urgent need for reorientation of activities towards population-based prevention and health promotion. The application of the WHO Health Promoting Schools concept is highly recommended.

Reported gum disease as a cardiovascular risk factor in adults with intellectual disabilities.

BACKGROUND: Several risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) have been identified among adults with intellectual disabilities (ID). Periodontitis has been reported to increase the risk of developing a CVD in the general population. Given that individuals with ID have been reported to have a higher prevalence of poor oral health than the general population, the purpose of this study was to determine whether adults with ID with informant reported gum disease present greater reported CVD than those who do not have reported gum disease and whether gum disease can be considered a risk factor for CVD. METHODS: Using baseline data from the Longitudinal Health and Intellectual Disability Study from which informant survey data were collected, 128 participants with reported gum disease and 1252 subjects without reported gum disease were identified. A series of univariate logistic regressions was conducted to identify potential confounding factors for a multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: The series of univariate logistic regressions identified age, Down syndrome, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, reported gum disease, daily consumption of fruits and vegetables and the addition of table salt as significant risk factors for reported CVD. When the significant factors from the univariate logistic regression were included in the multiple logistic analysis, reported gum disease remained as an independent risk factor for reported CVD after adjusting for the remaining risk factors. Compared with the adults with ID without reported gum disease, adults in the gum disease group demonstrated a significantly higher prevalence of reported CVD (19.5% vs. 9.7%; P = .001). CONCLUSION: After controlling for other risk factors, reported gum disease among adults with ID may be associated with a higher risk of CVD. However, further research that also includes clinical indices of periodontal disease and CVD for this population is needed to determine if there is a causal relationship between gum disease and CVD.

Factors associated with the risk of gingival disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Gingival disase and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are linked at both the epidemiologic and pathogenesis levels. In this study, we aimed to identify environmental factors associated with RA and gingival disease and to investigate factors that protect the gingival tissue in RA patients. This retrospective study analyzed 754 RA patients with gingival disease selected from the NHANES database who completed the mobile examination center interview/examination between 1999 and 2004. Data collected included demographics, lifestyle, dietary intake, and biomarkers. The study included 173 RA patients with gingival disease. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the odds of gingival disease were significantly increased with male gender. However, the odds of gingival disease was significantly decreased with increased vitamin C intake (OR = 0.996, p = 0.041), and higher serum vitamin D levels (OR = 0.979, p = 0.011). Given the significant association between the prevalence of gingival disease and RA, identification of risk factors of gingival disease will be useful as a screening tool in national health surveys to improve the management of periodontal disease in patients with RA.

Gingival Pigmentation Affected by Smoking among Different Age Groups: A Quantitative Analysis of Gingival Pigmentation Using Clinical Oral Photographs.

The presence of any age-related differences in gingival pigmentation associated with smoking, particularly in a young population, remains to be fully investigated. The purpose of this study was to determine the age-related differences in smoking gingival pigmentation. Gingival pigmentation was analyzed using the gingival melanosis record (GMR) and Hedin's classification with frontal oral photographs taken at 16 dental offices in Japan. Participants were categorized into 10-year age groups, and their baseline photographs were compared. In addition, to evaluate the effect of smoking cessation on gingival pigmentation, subjects were divided into a former smoker group (stopped smoking) and current smoker group. A total of 259 patients 19 to 79 years of age were analyzed. People in their 30s showed the most widespread gingival pigmentation. In addition, subjects in their 20s showed a weak effect of smoking cessation on gingival pigmentation. These findings suggested that the gingival pigmentation induced by smoking was more remarkable in young people than in middle-aged people. This information may be useful for anti-smoking education, especially among young populations with a high affinity for smoking.

Periodontal diseases.

Periodontal diseases comprise a wide range of inflammatory conditions that affect the supporting structures of the teeth (the gingiva, bone and periodontal ligament), which could lead to tooth loss and contribute to systemic inflammation. Chronic periodontitis predominantly affects adults, but aggressive periodontitis may occasionally occur in children. Periodontal disease initiation and propagation is through a dysbiosis of the commensal oral microbiota (dental plaque), which then interacts with the immune defences of the host, leading to inflammation and disease. This pathophysiological situation persists through bouts of activity and quiescence, until the affected tooth is extracted or the microbial biofilm is therapeutically removed and the inflammation subsides. The severity of the periodontal disease depends on environmental and host risk factors, both modifiable (for example, smoking) and non-modifiable (for example, genetic susceptibility). Prevention is achieved with daily self-performed oral hygiene and professional removal of the microbial biofilm on a quarterly or bi-annual basis. New treatment modalities that are actively explored include antimicrobial therapy, host modulation therapy, laser therapy and tissue engineering for tissue repair and regeneration.

A Clinical Validation of Self-Reported Periodontitis Among Participants in the Black Women's Health Study.

BACKGROUND: There is a paucity of data on the validity of self-report of periodontal disease in African Americans. The Black Women's Health Study (BWHS), a United States national cohort study of 59,000 black women followed via mailed questionnaires since 1995, offered the opportunity to clinically validate self-reported periodontitis among a sample of participants. METHODS: Oral health questionnaires were sent to study participants residing in Massachusetts. Respondents living in the Boston metro area were invited for clinical examination. Self-reports were compared with clinical data obtained from the 77 women (mean age: 59 years) who were examined. The authors examined the predictive ability of individual and combined questionnaire items with respect to clinical periodontal disease severity. Validation parameters were calculated for each question, and receiver operating characteristic statistics were generated to compare questionnaire items. RESULTS: Periodontitis prevalence in the validation sample was 24% for severe periodontitis and 61% for moderate disease. Performance of individual questionnaire items with respect to predicting periodontitis was better for severe compared with moderate disease. Combinations of questionnaire items improved the predictive ability with respect to severe disease beyond that of individual questionnaire items. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of severe periodontitis was similar to other age-comparable populations, without regard for race or sex, whereas prevalence of total periodontitis (moderate and severe) among women of similar age and/or race was much higher. Predictive ability of questionnaire items assessed in the BWHS was similar to that in other studies.