6 Evaluation of the Effect of Living Conditions on the Periodontal Health of Patients After the February 2023 Earthquake

6 Evaluation of the Effect of Living Conditions on the Periodontal Health of Patients After the February 2023 Earthquake Objective: Earthquakes, being natural disasters to which we are frequently exposed due to being located in earthquake-prone regions, cause significant material and spiritual destruction. In addition to the devastation and social losses experienced after an earthquake disaster, it is inevitable that the disruption of individuals' comfort zones and the stress resulting from all these events will have a negative impact on overall health and periodontal health. Periodontal diseases are multifactorial inflammatory diseases caused by the effect of microbial dental plaque. Following the February 6, 2023 earthquake in Kahramanmaraş, Adıyaman province also suffered deeply. By highlighting the impact of disrupted living conditions on periodontal health, we aimed to draw attention to the needs of earthquake victims and create awareness to take necessary steps Material And Method: Our study was conducted on 114 patients aged 18 and over who applied to the Periodontology Clinic of Adıyaman University Faculty of Dentistry in the two weeks prior to the February 6 2023 earthquake (January 23, 2023 - February 3, 2023), whose records were kept and treatment was initiated. Gingival Index (GI), Plaque Index (PI), Probing Pocket Depth (PPD) and Clinical Attachment Loss (CAL) measurements were performed and recorded for periodontal examination of these selected patients. In addition patients were asked to fill out a questionnaire we created to inquire about their sociodemographic status, hygiene habits before and after the earthquake as well as gingival complaints before and after the earthquake. Statistical analysis of the obtained data was performed. Results: It was observed that the values of Gingival Index (GI), Plaque Index (PI), Probing Pocket Depth (PPD), and Clinical Attachment Loss (CAL), which indicate the periodontal health status of the patients participating in our study, increased significantly after the earthquake compared to before the earthquake. There was no significant difference in periodontal health indices when comparing living conditions at home and in containers after the earthquake. Conclusion: According to our study, living conditions after the February 6, 2023 earthquake adversely affected the periodontal health of the participants.