Is Periodontitis Prevalence Declining? A Review of the Current Literature

Abstract

In recent decades, a decline in caries has led to retention of more teeth in industrialised countries. However, it is unknown, if such a trend also exists for periodontitis. Thus, the aim of this article is to review the evidence for global trends in the change in the prevalence of periodontitis over the last 20 years. Because evaluations of disease trends and comparisons of those between-trend studies are complicated by several methodological aspects, we also comprehensively discuss these issues. In total, ten studies provided data on trends in periodontal diseases with varying degrees of methodological bias. All studies consistently reported declining trends of periodontal parameters. However, methodological issues partly restricted interpretability of trend studies. Nevertheless, this review supports the assumption that periodontal disease prevalence is declining, though to varying degrees, but we will probably face higher treatment demands in the future because the number of teeth within subjects as well the number of elderly subjects within populations is increasing.

Mean annual attachment, bone level, and tooth loss: A systematic review

“…These were not comparable (general population study vs post‐menopausal women) and therefore meta‐analysis was not performed. Annual bone level loss was low with similar values in both studies 0.04 mm and 0.038 mm …”

“…Similarly, annual tooth loss was more than twice the magnitude comparing severe periodontitis 0.38 (95% CI 0.34, 0.42) vs moderate periodontitis 0.17 (95% CI 0.15, 0.19) . In a rural Chinese population, comparing the 30 participants with the worst attachment loss at 10 years vs 30 people with the least attachment loss, annual tooth loss was 0.53 vs 0.18 . In another study, comparison of those with progressing disease (>one site with attachment loss of >2 mm) with non‐progressing disease (all others) showed the same annual tooth loss of 0.07 …”

“…Severe periodontitis is the sixth most prevalent disease of mankind and is a public health problem since it is so widely prevalent and causes disability, impaired quality of life, and social inequality . The prevalence of periodontitis remains high globally, although periodontal health has shown signs of improvement in representative national and regional epidemiologic surveys in recent decades in countries with high incomes . However, the most severe forms of periodontitis have remained constantly high, affecting approximately 10% of surveyed populations …”

“…3,4 The prevalence of periodontitis remains high globally, although periodontal health has shown signs of improvement in representative national and regional epidemiologic surveys in recent decades in countries with high incomes. 5,6 However, the most severe forms of periodontitis have remained constantly high, affecting approximately 10% of surveyed populations. [6][7][8] Understanding the nature of the disease is crucial to research and development of more effective health promotion, disease prevention, and treatment.…”

Prevalence and predictors for clinical attachment loss in adolescents in Latin America: cross‐sectional study

“…, Holtfreter et al. ). Prevalence studies on periodontal disease in Latin America adolescents are marginal (Botero et al.…”