Preservation of probing attachment and alveolar bone levels in 2 random population samples

Abstract

The present study is an attempt to elucidate the relation between ageing and loss of periodontal tissue support, by studying the occurrence of probing attachment and alveolar bone loss in two samples of randomly selected individuals. The 1st sample was recruited in Japan and comprised 319 subjects aged 20-79 years. The 2nd sample was recruited in Sweden and comprised 192 subjects aged 30-65 years. All individuals underwent a radiographic and a comprehensive clinical examination, including recordings of probing attachment level. Within the 2 samples, subsamples of individuals whose periodontal status indicated minimal experience of destructive periodontal disease were selected. In these particular subsamples, it was revealed that a substantial proportion of tooth surfaces, also in older subjects, remained with no attachment or alveolar bone loss. To a lesser extent, this could be also observed when the entire samples were analyzed, despite the presence of abundant plaque and gingival inflammation. The results indicated that intact supporting periodontal tissues can be retained in subjects of increased age and corroborate the suggestion that loss of clinical attachment and alveolar bone is not an obligatory consequence of ageing.

Tooth Loss and Periodontitis in Older Individuals: Results From the Swedish National Study on Aging and Care

“…Thus, age‐related alterations in the periodontium may not inevitably be manifested as loss of alveolar bone 14 . This further supports the concept that periodontitis is related to many factors 15 . Consistently, the American Academy of Periodontology has not identified specific diagnostic criteria or treatment strategies for the management of periodontitis in older people.…”

Patient‐based assessments of clinical periodontal conditions in relation to alveolar bone loss

“…When site‐based data were used, bone height measurements from intra‐oral radiographs demonstrated positive and significant correlations with clinical measures of attachment level gain after treatment (Machtei et al 1998). In subjects with or without periodontitis, site‐based studies have suggested that the distance between the cementoenamel junction (CEJ) and bone level appears to increase to the age of approximately 50 and will then level out (Papapanou & Lindhe 1992). If the distance between CEJ and bone level exceeds approximately 4.0 mm, it can be assumed that periodontal pathology exists (Persson et al 1998).…”

Analysis of periodontal risk profiles in adults with or without a history of myocardial infarction

“…Methods for the assessment of alveolar bone height using either direct measurement with millimeter‐graded rulers or more elaborate projection methods including the employment of digital imaging and computer software programs have been commonly used in periodontal research (Papapanou et al 1988, Papapanou & Lindhe 1992, Brägger et al 1994, Fourmousis et al 1998, Persson et al 1998).…”