Occurrence and predictors of gingivitis and supragingival calculus in a population of Brazilian adults

Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of gingivitis and calculus and their predictors in a population of adults in Brazil. A representative sample of 758 adults from 35 to 59 years of age from Porto Alegre city was examined. A structured questionnaire was applied. The Gingival Bleeding Index and the presence of calculus were measured at 4 sites/tooth. Multivariable logistic models were fitted to determine the predictors for gingival bleeding at >20% of sites. Overall, 96.5% (95% confidence interval [CI]=95.1-98.0) of individuals had ≥ 1 bleeding site. The mean percentages of sites with gingivitis and calculus were 26.1% and 44.6%, respectively. The odds of gingivitis decreased by ∼45% for individuals ≥40 years old compared to younger adults. Individuals that never performed interproximal cleaning and non-whites had an approximately two times higher chance of gingivitis. Smokers had lower chances of gingivitis than never-smokers (odds ratio=0.40; 95% CI=0.24-0.68). Higher numbers of missing teeth were associated with higher chances of gingivitis. The percentage of calculus was significantly associated with skin color, education, proximal cleaning, smoking exposure, dental visits, and tooth loss. It can be concluded that the occurrence of gingivitis and calculus was high in this Brazilian population, and it was associated with age, skin color, education, self-reported proximal cleaning, smoking, dental care, and tooth loss.

O cálculo dental e a doença periodontal / Dental calculus and periodontal disease ­ a literature review

A doença periodontal (DP) é uma infecção crônica em resposta à presença de bactérias nos tecidos ao redor do dente, sendo definida como uma doença sujeito e sítio-específica, que evolui continuamente com períodos de exacerbação e de remissão. É uma patologia fortemente associada à presença de cálculo dentário em superfícies radiculares, porém, a superfície áspera do cálculo dental por si só não é suficiente para induzir à inflamação nos tecidos periodontais adjacentes. O cálculo dental atua como um substrato ideal para a colonização microbiana subgengival, e seu papel no desenvolvimento da doença periodontal tem sido investigado em vários estudos. Esta revisão buscou encontrar na literatura disponível estudos recentes sobre a relação existente entre o cálculo dental e a doença periodontal. Diante dos artigos encontrados, concluiu-se que a superfície porosa do cálculo dental abriga um biofilme viável, que propicia o crescimento e o desenvolvimento de periodontopatógenos. Ainda, pôde-se concluir que o papel do cálculo dental na etiologia da DP é secundário e que sua remoção da superfície dentária é essencial na fase inicial da terapia periodontal. Entretanto, nenhum método utilizado para o debridamento da superfície dental é eficaz na eliminação total do cálculo.

Periodontal disease (PD) is a site-specific, chronic infection in response to bacteria surrounding teeth, with periods of exacerbation and remission. It has been strongly associated to dental calculus (DC) at root surfaces; however, the rough nature of radicular tissues is not enough to trigger soft tissue adjacent infl ammation. The dental calculus act as an ideal substrate for subgingival colonization and its role on the development of periodontal disease has been investigated in several articles. The review aimed to identify recent studies on the relationship between PD and dental calculus. Based on the available data, it can be stated that the porous nature of dental calculus harbors an active biofi lm allowing for growth and development of periodontopathogenic microorganisms. Also, it can be said that DC has a secondary role on the PD etiology, and that its removal remains essential in the early phase of periodontal therapy. Nevertheless, no actual debridement method is effective for complete elimination of DC.