Determination of the ratio of lost teeth due to periodontal disease within total lost teeth

SUMMARYPeriodontal diseases and caries are two main oral health problems giving rise to tooth loss in the whole world. Tooth loss results in lots of problems related to aesthetics, phonation, function and self-esteem. In addition that, rehabilitation of lost teeth is a big socio-economic problem.Our aims were to determine the ratio of teeth lost due to periodontal disease within whole lost teeth and to evaluate periodontal risk factors results in tooth loss.In this study, all participants recruited from individuals referred to Gazi University Faculty of Dentistry Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology and Gazi University Faculty of Dentistry Yenimahalle Research and Application Unit. All of them were either 18 years old or older than 18 and had at least one extracted tooth. We only included to these patients into the study if they could remember the exact extraction reason. As a precondition, their self-reported data about their lost teeth had not to be in a conflict with clinical and radiographic findings.This study was designed in two phases including a questionnaire and clinical examination (and radiographic evaluation as needed). Through the survey, participants have been questioned about their first and last names, personal identification number, age, gender, educational level, smoking habit, frequency of tooth brushing, interdental cleaning and dental visits, systemic health conditions. We also recorded their responses to the question regarding how many surfaces a teeth had. Following the survey a detailed clinical examination was performed. Lost teeth and causes of their loss, the current decayed and filled teeth were recorded. Green & Vermillion Simplified Oral Hygiene Index was used to assess oral hygiene status of individuals and periodontal health status was evaluated using the CPITN index system.According to the results of this research, it was concluded that periodontal disease maintained its importance within all causes of tooth loss in our country as all over the world and one of every extracted four teeth was extracted due to periodontal diseases. The first molar teeth were observed as the most common lost teeth within total lost. It was found that periodontal tooth loss was associated with age, male gender, low education level, smoking habit, having diabetes and cardiovascular disease (p<0.001), lack of dental visits in a regular manner (p<0.05) and all of these associations were found statistically significant.A very small part of the study population (5.6%) had periodontally healthy tissues. Only 9.5% of study participants stated that they regularly made interdental cleaning.In order to reach to the highest level of oral health and prevent tooth loss, oral hygiene education and preventive treatment practices should be emphasized and it should be the most important part of community oral health program. As a result of this approach, studies concerning tooth loss should be updated at regular intervals. Achieving the objectives mentioned above requires additional efforts of government, educational institutions, media organizations and all dentists.