Higher haemoglobin levels are associated with impaired periodontal status.

AIM: Cellular oxygen sensing mechanisms have been linked to periodontal condition, and levels of haemoglobin (Hb) (the main carrier of oxygen) can be used as a surrogate measure for hypoxia. We aimed to examine relations between Hb levels and key periodontal health parameters in a general population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The population comprised 1711 (47% male) subjects from the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966, for whom an oral health examination was carried out at 46 years of age and whose Hb levels were within the Finnish reference values. Relative risks (RRs) were estimated using Poisson regression models. RESULTS: The low-Hb tertile (mean Hb 133 g/L) had healthier anthropometric, metabolic and periodontal health parameters than the high-Hb tertile (mean Hb 151 g/L). Multivariable regression models adjusted for risk factors showed Hb levels to be positively associated with alveolar bone loss (ABL) and periodontal pocket depth (PPD), although the associations were weaker after adjustment for key metabolic parameters and were strongly influenced by smoking status. CONCLUSIONS: Hb levels within the normal variation are positively associated with PPD and ABL. The association between Hb levels and periodontal condition appeared to be more complex than had previously been anticipated.

Implementation of oral hygiene practices in nursing homes - a qualitative approach among supervisor nurses.

OBJECTIVES: This study describes daily oral health care in private enhanced service housing units and nursing homes in Finland using a qualitative method. METHODS: Nineteen supervisor nurses were interviewed in the six largest cities in Finland. The interviews consisted of semi-structured questions. The interviews were then transcribed and analyzed using inductive content analysis. RESULTS: The qualitative content analysis revealed five main categories: diet, education in the oral health of older people, oral care equipment and taking care of them, caring for the mouths of residents, and professional oral health care. The results revealed that sugary snacks were given daily in the units and there was a need for oral health care education. The dental equipment of residents was taken care of well and the oral health of the residents was taken care of moderately well. Furthermore, there was a need for co-operation between dental professionals and only half of the residents had an individual oral care plan. CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that based on this qualitative study, the implementation of daily oral health care in most nursing homes and enhanced housing units seems to be at a sufficient level and more oral health-related practical and theoretical education is needed.

The antecedents of oral care in nursing facilities - a qualitative interview study among supervisor nurses.

OBJECTIVES: This qualitative study describes the views of supervisor nurses related to antecedents of oral care in Finnish nursing facilities. METHODS: In the six largest cities in Finland, 19 supervisor nurses were interviewed and asked five semi-structured questions related to the antecedents of oral care in the units. The interviews were analyzed using inductive content analysis. RESULTS: Qualitative content analysis revealed five main categories: awareness of nurses (3 categories, 9 subcategories), attitude and motivation (3 categories, 10 subcategories), supporting quality of life and health (4 categories, 11 subcategories), the meaning of oral health in the unit (3 categories, 10 subcategories), and the role of the supervisor nurse in oral health care (4 categories, 14 subcategories). The awareness of nurses regarding oral health was in most cases good. Nurses' attitudes towards oral health and their motivation to oral care vary but were mostly good. Nurses were aware that oral care enhances the quality of life. The role of the supervisor nurse in organizing oral care was crucial. CONCLUSIONS: The performed analysis identified five main categories to describe antecedents for oral care in Finnish nursing facilities. The categories that needed to be improved were knowledge and attitude, and motivation related to oral care.

High anticholinergic burden and hyposalivation and xerostomia in the elderly.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to study the association between high anticholinergic burden and hyposalivation and xerostomia among older people. BACKGROUND: Anticholinergic drugs have been shown to cause xerostomia and hyposalivation. Yet there are few studies on the association between anticholinergic burden and hyposalivation and xerostomia in the elderly. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study population consisted of community-dwelling older people (n = 321, mean age 81.6 years) from the Oral health GeMS study. Participants provided salivary samples and xerostomia was determined with a questionnaire. The baseline data were collected by interviews, oral clinical examinations and from patient records. Each participant's anticholinergic burden was determined by eight anticholinergic scales. Poisson regression models with robust error variance were used to estimate relative risks (RR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: RRs of high anticholinergic burden in anticholinergic scales for xerostomia (multiple symptoms) ranged from 1.02 to 1.68; for low unstimulated salivary flow (≤0.1 mL/min) from 1.47 to 1.67; and for low stimulated salivary flow (≤0.7 mL/min) from 0.99 to 2.07. A high anticholinergic burden according to seven out of eight scales was associated (p < .05) with hyposalivation or xerostomia. CONCLUSIONS: A high anticholinergic burden was associated more strongly with hyposalivation (both unstimulated and stimulated) than with xerostomia.

Association between bleeding periodontal pockets and eczemas: Results of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966.

AIM: To investigate whether the periodontal condition as measured by bleeding periodontal pockets is associated with atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, and eczema nummulare. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population (n = 1871) was obtained from the 46-year follow-up study of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 study (NFBC1966). The periodontal condition was measured by the number of sites with bleeding periodontal pockets that were ≥4 mm deep. The whole skin of the participants was clinically examined, and diagnoses of skin diseases were made according to the International Classification of Diseases. Prevalence rate ratios (PRR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were estimated using Poisson regression models with robust error variance. RESULTS: In this cohort, comprising 46-year-old participants of NFBC1966, the presence of 1-3 and ≥4 bleeding-deepened periodontal pockets (≥4 mm deep) were associated with seborrheic dermatitis (PRR 1.9, 95% CI: 1.3-2.8 and PRR 2.2, 95% CI: 1.4-3.3, respectively) and with eczema nummulare (PRR 1.7, 95% CI: 0.9-3.1 and PRR 1.7, 95% CI: 0.9-3.3, respectively). For non-smokers, the corresponding estimates were 1.7 for seborrheic dermatitis (95% CI: 1.1-2.6) and 1.8 (95% CI: 1.1-3.1) and 1.4 for eczema nummulare (95% CI: 0.7-2.9) and 1.2 (95% CI: 0.5-2.9), respectively. No association was found between bleeding-deepened periodontal pockets and atopic dermatitis. Further adjustments for C-reactive protein, diabetes, and inflammatory diseases did not essentially change the risk estimates among either the total population or the non-smokers. CONCLUSION: Bleeding periodontal pockets appeared to be associated with the presence of seborrheic dermatitis and eczema nummulare.

Association between periodontal condition and blood pressure is confounded by smoking.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of smoking as a confounding factor in the association between periodontal pocketing and blood pressure. MATERIAL AND METHODS: After restriction to 45-64-year-old subjects without hypertension, diabetes, rheumatic diseases, obesity and with no history of cardiovascular diseases or ongoing lipid-lowering medications, the study population consisted of 307 subjects of the Health 2000 Survey in Finland. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure and pulse pressure (mmHg) were used as outcome variables. Periodontal condition was measured by the number of teeth with ≥4 mm periodontal pockets. ß-estimates and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were obtained from linear regression models. Analyses were made in the whole study population and stratified according to smoking habits/history. RESULTS: The number of teeth with ≥4 mm periodontal pockets associated statistically significantly with systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure in the whole study population. Among never-smokers or daily smokers, there were no consistent nor statistically significant associations between the number of teeth with ≥4 mm periodontal pockets and systolic/diastolic blood pressure or pulse pressure. CONCLUSIONS: Smoking appeared to confound the association between periodontal condition and blood pressure. Thorough control for the effect of smoking was not obtained using multivariate models.

Periodontal condition and ultrasound-based measures of arterial stiffness: results of the Health 2000 Survey.

BACKGROUND: Periodontitis has been associated with inflammatory processes in arterial walls such as impairment in endothelial function and thickening of intima media. As inflammation plays a role also in arterial stiffening, an association between periodontal inflammation and arterial stiffness can be expected. So far, conflicting results of the association between periodontal disease and arterial stiffness have been reported. Many of the earlier studies were conducted in specific populations and heterogeneous measures of both arterial stiffness and periodontal status were used. In this population-based study we aimed to investigate whether periodontal pocketing and gingival bleeding are associated with ultrasound-based measures of arterial stiffness. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, two sets of data based on the national Health 2000 Survey in Finland were formed. Data set I comprised never-smoking 45-64-year-old dentate (≥ 10 natural teeth), non-diabetic, non-rheumatic, non-obese (BMI ≤ 30 kg/m2), non-hypertensive subjects with no coronary artery disease or ongoing lipid-lowering medications (n = 157). Data set II was formed of an unrestricted 45-74-year-old dentate population (n = 536). Four arterial stiffness measures (carotid artery compliance, Peterson's elastic modulus, Young's elastic modulus and beta stiffness index) based on an ultrasound examination of the common carotid artery were used. Periodontal parameters included the number of teeth with ≥ 4 mm deep periodontal pockets and the number of sextants with gingival bleeding. ß-estimates, confidence intervals, and p-values were obtained from linear regression models. RESULTS: In Data set I, the adjusted ß-estimates for the association between the number of teeth with ≥ 4 mm deep periodontal pockets and Peterson's elastic modulus and Young's elastic modulus were 15.80 (p = 0.12) and 61.02 (p = 0.22), respectively. The respective ß-estimates were 31.06 (p = 0.17) and 121.16 (p = 0.28) for the association between the number of bleeding sextants and these two stiffness measures. The results in Data set II were in line with the results in Data set I, with the exception that the adjusted ß-estimates for the associations between Peterson's elastic modulus and Young's elastic modulus and periodontal parameters were closer to null. CONCLUSIONS: This population-based study did not provide evidence of an association between periodontal condition and arterial stiffness.

Association of long-term obesity and weight gain with periodontal pocketing: Results of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 study.

AIM: To investigate whether obesity, central obesity, and weight gain are associated with periodontal pocketing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A never-smoking sub-population (n = 725) of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 was categorized based on body mass index (BMI; participants with normal weight, overweight, and obesity) and waist circumference (WC; participants without central obesity and with central obesity) at ages 31 and 46. The categories were combined to define whether the participants stayed in the respective BMI and WC categories or moved on to a higher category during follow-up. A periodontal examination was done at age 46. RESULTS: WC was more consistently associated with periodontal pocketing than BMI. The relative risks for the number of sites with periodontal pocket depth (PPD) ≥4 mm and bleeding PPD ≥4 mm in participants with central obesity both at age 31 and at age 46 were 1.7 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.4-2.0) and 2.1 (95% CI 1.6-2.6). The corresponding values for participants who had no central obesity at age 31 but had central obesity at age 46 were 1.6 (95% CI 1.4-1.8) and 1.9 (95% CI 1.6-2.3). CONCLUSION: Of all the studied measures, central obesity appeared to be most strongly associated with the inflammatory condition of the periodontium.

Association of hyperglycaemia with periodontal status: Results of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 study.

AIM: To investigate the association of hyperglycaemia and changes in glycaemic control with periodontal status in non-diabetic individuals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A sub-population (n = 647) of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 was studied. We categorized long-term glucose balance based on fasting plasma glucose (FPG) at ages 31 and 46: FPG <5.0 mmol/l (strict normoglycaemia), FPG 5.0-5.59 mmol/l (slightly elevated FPG) and FPG 5.6-6.9 mmol/l (prediabetes). Probing pocket depth (PPD) and alveolar bone level (BL) data were collected at age 46. Relative risks (RR, 95% CI) were estimated using Poisson regression models. RESULTS: Periodontal status was poorer in individuals whose glucose balance worsened from age 31 to 46 years than in those with a stable glucose balance. In the case of strict normoglycaemia at age 31 and slightly elevated FPG or prediabetes at age 46, the RRs for PPD ≥4 mm were 1.8 (95% CI 1.4-2.2) and 2.8 (95% CI 2.0-3.8) and for BL ≥5 mm 1.1 (95% CI 0.8-1.4) and 1.8 (95% CI 1.2-2.8), respectively. CONCLUSION: The results of this population-based cohort study suggest that impairment in glucose control in non-diabetic individuals is associated with periodontal pocketing and alveolar bone loss.

Role of oral pathogens in the pathogenesis of intracranial aneurysm: review of existing evidence and potential mechanisms.

Degeneration of intracranial aneurysm wall is under active research and recent studies indicate an increased risk of rupture of intracranial aneurysm among patients with periodontal diseases. In addition, oral bacterial DNA has been identified from wall samples of ruptured and unruptured aneurysms. These novel findings led us to evaluate if oral diseases could predispose to pathological changes seen on intracranial aneurysm walls eventually leading to subarachnoid hemorrhage. The aim of this review is to consider mechanisms on the relationship between periodontitis and aneurysm rupture, focusing on recent evidence.

Anticholinergic burden, oral hygiene practices, and oral hygiene status-cross-sectional findings from the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966.

OBJECTIVES: To study the association between anticholinergic burden and oral hygiene practices and oral hygiene status among 46-year-old people. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 1945 participants from the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 (NFBC1966), who had a complete dental status. The participants underwent clinical medical and dental examinations, and their medication data were gathered by combining self-reported drug use with information from the National Prescription Register. Anticholinergic burden was measured using nine previously published anticholinergic scales. Oral hygiene practices were assessed with toothbrushing frequency and oral hygiene status with the presence of visible dental plaque. Poisson regression with robust variance estimation and negative binomial regression models were used to estimate relative risks (RR). RESULTS: Thirty percent of the participants reported brushing their teeth twice a day and about 25% of their teeth had dental plaque on them. Fifteen percent of the participants used at least one anticholinergic drug or had an anticholinergic burden according to the nine anticholinergic scales. After adjustments for confounding factors, the RRs of anticholinergic burden varied between 0.95 and 1.11 for toothbrushing frequency. Anticholinergic burden (according to Anticholinergic Activity Scale, Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden, Chew's scale) was associated statistically significantly with the number of teeth with dental plaque. For the three scales, RRs varied from 1.24 to 1.50. CONCLUSIONS: Anticholinergic burden associated with poor oral hygiene. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The findings stress the importance of providing oral hygiene instructions and prophylactic measures to patients taking anticholinergic drugs.

Effect of smoking on periodontal health and validation of self-reported smoking status with serum cotinine levels.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether self-reported smoking and serum cotinine levels associate with periodontal pocket development and to determine the accuracy of self-reported smoking using serum cotinine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This 4-year prospective cohort study included data from 294 dentate adults, aged ≥30 years, who participated in both the Health 2000 Survey and the Follow-up Study of Finnish Adults' Oral Health. Subjectively reported smoking status (daily smokers n = 62, occasional smokers n = 12, quitters n = 49, and never-smokers n = 171), serum cotinine levels, demographic factors, education level, dental behaviours and medical history were collected at baseline. The outcome measure was the number of teeth with periodontal pocketing ≥4 mm over 4 years. RESULTS: Self-reported daily smokers had 1.82 (95% CI: 1.32-2.50) higher incidence of deepened periodontal pockets than never-smokers. A positive association was observed between serum cotinine (≥42.0 µg/L) and the development of periodontal pockets. The misclassification rate of self-reported smoking was 6%. CONCLUSIONS: Both self-reported daily smoking and higher serum cotinine were associated with periodontal pocket development. Self-reported smoking was fairly accurate in this study. However, higher cotinine levels among a few self-reported never-smokers indicated misreporting or passive smoking. Thus, self-reports alone are not enough to assess the smoking-attributable disease burden.

Genome-wide association study of periodontal pocketing in Finnish adults.

BACKGROUND: A genome-wide association study is an analytical approach that investigates whether genetic variants across the whole genome contribute to disease progression. The aim of this study was to investigate genome-wide associations of periodontal condition measured as deepened periodontal pockets (≥ 4 mm) in Finnish adults. METHODS: This study was based on the data of the national Health 2000 Survey (BRIF8901) in Finland and the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 Study totalling 3,245 individuals. The genotype data were analyzed using the SNPTEST v.2.4.1. The number of teeth with deepened periodontal pockets (≥ 4 mm deep) was employed as a continuous response variable in additive regression analyses performed separately for the two studies and the results were combined in a meta-analysis applying a fixed effects model. RESULTS: Genome-wide significant associations with the number of teeth with ≥ 4 mm deep pockets were not found at the p-level of < 5 × 10-8, while in total 17 loci reached the p-level of 5 × 10-6. Of the top hits, SNP rs4444613 in chromosome 20 showed the strongest association (p = 1.35 × 10-7). CONCLUSION: No statistically significant genome-wide associations with deepened periodontal pockets were found in this study.

Periodontitis and gingival bleeding associate with intracranial aneurysms and risk of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Oral bacteria DNA has been found in intracranial aneurysms (IA) and a high prevalence of periodontitis was reported in IA patients. We investigated whether periodontitis associates with IA formation and aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). First, we compared in a case-control setting the prevalence of periodontal disease in IA patients (42 unruptured IA, 34 ruptured IA) and in age- and gender-matched controls (n = 70) from the same geographical area (Health 2000 Survey, BRIF8901). Next, we investigated whether periodontitis at baseline associated with aSAH in a 13-year follow-up study of 5170 Health 2000 Survey participants. Follow-up data was obtained from national hospital discharge and cause of death registries. Univariate analysis, logistic regression, and Cox-regression were used. Periodontitis (≥ 4mm gingival pocket) and severe periodontitis (≥ 6mm gingival pocket) were found in 92% and 49% of IA patients respectively and associated with IAs (OR 5.3, 95%CI 1.1-25.9, p < 0.000 and OR 6.3, 95%CI 1.3-31.4, p < 0.001, respectively). Gingival bleeding had an even stronger association, especially if detected in 4-6 teeth sextants (OR 34.4, 95%CI 4.2-281.3). Severe periodontitis in ≥ 3 teeth or gingival bleeding in 4-6 teeth sextants at baseline increased the risk of aSAH during follow-up (HR 22.5, 95%CI 3.6-139.5, p = 0.001 and HR 8.3, 95%CI 1.5-46.1, p = 0.015, respectively). Association of periodontitis and gingival bleeding with risk of IA development and aSAH was independent of gender, smoking status, hypertension, or alcohol abuse. Periodontitis and gingival bleeding associate with increased risk for IA formation and eventual aSAH. Further epidemiological and mechanistic studies are indicated.

Long-term metabolic syndrome is associated with periodontal pockets and alveolar bone loss.

AIM: To investigate whether the metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with deepened periodontal pockets and alveolar bone loss. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was based on a subpopulation of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 survey (n = 1964). The criteria of the AHA/NHLBI were used to determine MetS. The analyses were based on the metabolic data at ages 31 and 46, and probing pocket depth and alveolar bone level data at age 46. Relative risks (RR, 95% CI) were estimated using Poisson regression models. RESULTS: Relative risks for PD ≥ 4 mm and BL ≥ 5 mm were higher in individuals with an exposure to MetS ≥ 15 years (RR 1.8, 95% CI 1.6-2.1 and RR 1.5, 95% CI 1.3-1.9, respectively) than in those whose exposure was <15 years (RR 1.2, 95% CI 1.1-1.3 and RR 1.1, 95% CI 1.0-1.3, respectively). Consistently stronger associations were found in never smokers. Women showed stronger associations of MetS with PD ≥ 4 mm than men. The association with BL ≥ 5 mm was observed only in men. CONCLUSION: A long-term exposure by MetS was associated independently and in an exposure-dependent manner with periodontal pockets and alveolar bone level.

Alcohol use and periodontal pocket development: findings from a 4-yr longitudinal study.

This study investigated whether alcohol use influences periodontal pocket development during a 4-yr follow-up period. The study included those participants who took part in both the Health 2000 Survey and the Follow-up Study on Finnish Adults' Oral Health. The participants at baseline were aged ≥30 yr, periodontally healthy, and did not have diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis. The development of periodontal pockets at follow-up was measured as the number of teeth with periodontal pockets and the presence of periodontal pockets. Alcohol use at baseline was measured as g/wk, frequency, and use over the risk limit. Incidence rate ratios with 95% CI were estimated using negative binomial regression models and Poisson regression models with a robust variance estimator. No consistent association was found between any of the alcohol variables and periodontal pocket development in the total population or among non-smokers. Among smokers, a positive association was found with the frequency of alcohol use. In general, risk estimates were slightly higher for women than for men. In summary, light-to-moderate alcohol use appears not to be consistently associated with the development of periodontal pockets. The adverse effects on the periodontium seem, to some extent, to be dependent on gender and smoking.

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.

Association between alcohol use and periodontal pockets in Finnish adult population.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether alcohol use is associated with deepened periodontal pockets and whether this association is dependent on age, gender or socioeconomic position (SEP). MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study, based on the Health 2000 Survey, consisted of dentate, non-smoking Finnish adults aged 30-65 years (n = 3059). The outcome was the number of teeth with deepened (≥4 mm) periodontal pockets. The exposure was self-reported alcohol use assessed as amount, frequency, and use over the risk limit. Zero-inflated negative binomial regression models were used to estimate relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). RESULTS: In this study, alcohol use did not consistently associate with the number of teeth with deepened periodontal pockets. An association with the number of teeth with deepened periodontal pockets was found among men, older participants, and those participants belonging to basic or intermediate educational groups. An association with poor periodontal health was observed among men or older participants who belonged to the basic or intermediate educational group, whereas such associations were not observed among those participants belonging to the higher educational group. CONCLUSIONS: The association between alcohol use and periodontal health appears to be confounded by individual characteristics such as age, gender, and especially one's SEP.

Periodontal condition in relation to the adherence to nutrient recommendations in daily smokers.

AIM: To examine whether a healthy diet based on nutrient recommendations is associated with periodontal condition in smokers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Daily smokers from the cross-sectional Health 2000 Survey (BRIF 8901) in Finland were analysed in two age groups (30-49 and 50-79 years, n = 704 and 267) and according to the level of oral hygiene. Periodontal condition was measured as the number of sextants with gingival bleeding and teeth with ≥4 mm deepened periodontal pockets. Information on nutrition was collected by a validated food frequency questionnaire and measured using the Baltic Sea Diet Score (BSDS) and the Recommended Finnish Diet Score (RFDS). RESULTS: In the total study population, no association between the scores and periodontal condition was observed. Among 30- to 49-year-old participants with good oral hygiene, diet scores associated inversely with the number of teeth with deepened periodontal pockets (p = .078 (BSDS) and p = .027 (RFDS)). CONCLUSIONS: In a representative sample of Finnish adults who smoke, a healthy diet was not associated with periodontal condition. Among a younger age group with good oral hygiene, a healthy diet associated with better periodontal condition. Age and oral hygiene appeared to modify the association between diet and periodontal condition.

Association between periodontal condition and the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus-Results from a 15-year follow-up study.

AIM: To study whether periodontal condition is associated with the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A population-based follow-up study was conducted among persons born in 1935 and living in the city of Oulu, Finland (n = 395). The baseline examinations were done during 1990-1992, and the follow-up examinations were done during 2007-2008. The data were gathered by questionnaires, laboratory tests and clinical measurements. Poisson regression models were used in the data analyses. RESULTS: The adjusted rate ratios (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for the incident T2DM among subjects with 4-5 mm deep periodontal pockets (n = 98), among subjects with 6 mm deep or deeper periodontal pockets (n = 91), and among edentulous subjects (n = 118) were 1.32 (95% CI: 0.69-2.53), 1.56 (95% CI: 0.84-2.92) and 1.00 (95% CI: 0.53-1.89), respectively, compared to dentate subjects without deepened (4 mm deep or deeper) periodontal pockets (n = 88). The adjusted RR per site (the number of sites with deepened periodontal pockets as a continuous variable) was 1.02 (95% CI: 1.00-1.04). CONCLUSIONS: Poor periodontal condition may be a predictor of the development of T2DM. However, the causality between periodontal condition and the development of T2DM remains uncertain.