Periodontal status among adolescents in Georgia. A pathfinder study

Abstract

Objectives. The aim of the present pathfinder study was to screen and map the periodontal status of Georgian population in accordance with the guidelines of the World Health Organization for population based surveys.Methods. During 2012, a pathfinder study was conducted to collect this data. For the periodontal portion of the study, 15-year-old school children were examined in the capital city of Tbilisi as well as in two other large cities and 4 smaller villages. All participants were examined by a trained dental team in a classroom using a dental mirror and a periodontal probe. Periodontal examination included plaque scores, calculus scores, probing depth measurements and bleeding on probing. These measurements were recorded for the Ramfjord index teeth.Results. A total of 397 15-year-old participants were examined in this pathfinder study. There were 240 females (60.45%) and 157 males (39.55%). Of the total participants 196 (49.37%) were urban adolescents while 201 (50.63%) were from rural communities. Mean probing depth was 3.34 ± 0.57 mm with a range of 1 to 10 mm; a relatively high proportion (34.26%) of these subjects presented with at least one site with pockets of 5 mm or deeper. Males presented with greater plaque, calculus and probing depths than females. When urban and rural populations were compared, urban participants presented with more plaque, probing depths and bleeding on probing. Greater pocket depths were found to be related to the presence of plaque calculus and bleeding on probing.Conclusions. Overall, rather high incidences of periodontal pockets ≥ 5 mm were detected in this population. This data should serve to prepare further more detailed epidemiological studies that will serve to plan and implement prevent and treat strategies for periodontal diseases in Georgia and also help make manpower decisions.

The pathfinder study among schoolchildren in the Republic of Moldova: dental caries experience

“…The current investigation was based on a previous successful experience, conducted by almost the same research team, in the Republic of Georgia.…”

Comparison of oral health condition in Polish adolescents within 7 years

“…19 However, taking into consideration our data, the occurrence of shallow pockets was greater than in Greece -0.2% 23 and smaller than in Georgia -35.36%. 22 The proportion of Polish adolescents who reported brushing their teeth twice a day or more often was higher in 2008 than in 2015. In contrast, in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, it increased from 80% in 2003 to 85% in 2013.…”

“…The proportion of 15-year-olds with gingival bleeding varied in different countries from 25% to 92%. 5,7,19,[21][22][23] Gingival bleeding evaluated by the application of a periodontal probe around 6 index teeth within 10 years (2003-2013) decreased in England (from 45% to 40%) and Northern Ireland (from 44% to 41%), but increased in Wales (from 37% to 42%). 19 However, taking into consideration our data, the occurrence of shallow pockets was greater than in Greece -0.2% 23 and smaller than in Georgia -35.36%.…”

Determinants Of Adherence To Dental Treatment Of Socially Vulnerable Adolescents In Primary Health Care: A Cohort Study

“…In addition to dental caries, periodontal disease is another oral disease that is concerning at this stage of life. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently reported that most children and adolescents show signs of gingivitis [3], whose prevalence is up to 80% in adolescents [8]. According to the latest Brazilian nationwide oral health survey, more than half of the adolescents aged 15 to 19 years show signs of the disease, such as bleeding (9.7%), calculus (28.6%) and periodontal pockets (10.8%) [9].…”