To explore trends in the prevalence of periodontal disease in adults aged 27-70, in England, between 1998 and 2009.
Methods:
Data from the UK national Adult Dental Health Surveys of 1998 and 2009 were used to assess periodontitis prevalence in adults aged 27-70 in England (n=1,586 in 1998, n= 4,272 in 2009). Period analyses compared periodontitis prevalence in identical age groups between the two surveys, whilst cohort analyses compared periodontitis prevalence within generations as they aged between the surveys.
Results:
Period analyses revealed the prevalence of severe periodontitis (pocketing ≥6mm) increased between 1998 and 2009 in each age group (5.8% to 9.9% overall), despite the prevalence of moderate periodontitis (pocketing 4-5.5mm) decreasing (52.0% to 39.4% overall) (Table). Over the same period, plaque control consistently improved, changes in dental attendance were inconsistent (but remained fairly stable overall) and tooth retention consistently increased (Table). The increase in prevalence of severe periodontitis was greater in males (5.3%) than females (3.0%), irregular (6.5%) than regular dental attenders (2.7%) and “intermediate” (6.7%) and “routine and manual” occupation groups (6.9%) than “managerial and professional” groups (1.1%).
Age groups |
Prevalence pocketing 4-5.5mm (%) |
Prevalence ≥6mm pocketing (%) |
Mean plaque score (%) |
Prevalence regular dental attendance (%) |
Mean No. Teeth (n) |
|||||
|
1998 |
2009 |
1998 |
2009 |
1998 |
2009 |
1998 |
2009 |
1998 |
2009 |
27-37 |
47.0 |
33.7 |
2.2 |
4.9 |
31.3 |
22.5 |
55.8 |
47.0 |
28.0 |
28.6 |
38-48 |
54.8 |
38.3 |
5.6 |
7.8 |
36.7 |
23.5 |
63.0 |
62.8 |
26.0 |
27.2 |
49-59 |
55.4 |
43.2 |
7.2 |
13.3 |
38.8 |
23.9 |
66.2 |
68.5 |
22.7 |
25.0 |
60-70 |
54.1 |
44.8 |
13.1 |
15.9 |
41.7 |
25.1 |
68.5 |
68.5 |
19.4 |
22.0 |
All (27-70) |
52.0 |
39.4 |
5.8 |
9.9 |
36.1 |
23.6 |
62.0 |
61.0 |
25.0 |
26.1 |
Cohort analyses revealed similar results. The prevalence of moderate periodontitis decreased, whilst the prevalence of severe periodontitis increased in each generation as they aged (Table, reading diagonally down and right). The latter increase was greatest in males, irregular attenders and lower socio-economic groups.
Conclusion:
The prevalence of severe periodontitis, in adults aged 27-70, increased between 1998 and 2009, within identical age groups and aging cohorts, despite moderate periodontitis decreasing. The increase was greatest in males, lower socio-economic groups and irregular attenders. The increase within identical age groups did not correspond with changes in plaque control or dental attendance, but could potentially be attributed to increased tooth retention.