Epidemiology of perio diseases

Question 1

What is descriptive epidemiology?

Answer 1

Description of the distribution of the disease in different populations

Question 2

What is etiologic epidemiology?

Answer 2

Consider the aetiology of a disease from the combination of the descriptive epidemiological data along with other information e.g. genetics, microbiology, sociology etc

Question 3

What type of epidemiology is this?:

“evaluate the consistency of epidemiologic data with hypotheses developed clinically or experimentally”

Answer 3

Analytical epidemiology

Question 4

What is experimental epidemiology?

Answer 4

Provides a basis for developing and evaluating preventative programmes and public health practices

Question 5

Why should we study epidemiology?

Answer 5

• impact of disease
• any aetiological factors
• treatment needs
• effects of treatment

Question 6

Why is the epidemiology of periodontal disease complicated?

Answer 6

The disease has a gradual onset,
It varies in severity.
No universally agreed standards for defining various stages of disease

Question 7

What does ‘incidence’ mean in terms of epidemiology?

Answer 7

The number of new cases per year

Question 8

What does the term ‘prevalence’ mean in terms of epidemiology?

Answer 8

The total number of cases

Question 9

Why is it difficult to know what to measure when studying periodontal epidemiology?

Answer 9

Because:
… there are no set, defined parameters which should be measured
… Results varying in international and national studies
So analysis of data is more difficult

Question 10

What would the issues be when thinking about how to measure periodontal epidemiology?

Answer 10

It wouldn’t be practical to use the ideal full assessment in order to acquire a large data set. This is also particularly difficult in a community setting.

Alternatives are used - such as partial recording, cross sections etc

Question 11

If you were assessing the severity of periodontal disease, what would you be assessing?

Answer 11

The amount of attachment loss in a tooth

Question 12

If you were assessing the extent of perio disease - what would you be looking at?

Answer 12

The number of teeth affected

Question 13

How often is dental disease measured in the UK?

Who measures this?

Answer 13

Every 10 years

The Department of Health

Question 14

Why may the ADH (adult dental health survey) probably significantly underestimate the amount of disease?

Answer 14

Partial mouth recording

Not completed in the dental clinic

Question 15

Did visible plaque and calculus increase or decrease between 1998 and 2009?

Answer 15

Decreased by 33%

Question 16

Gingivitis affects what percentage of the adult population?

Answer 16

60% - it is highly prevalent

Question 17

What is gingivitis associated with?

Answer 17

Levels of plaque

Question 18

What is the percentage of mild-moderate periodontitis in adults?

What is the percentage for severe periodontitis?

Answer 18

20-35%

10-15%

Question 19

Which factors need to be considered when assessing patients progression of disease? (3)

Answer 19

1. Site specificity:
   - Periodontal phenotype
   - Any local factors (e.g. overhang, mouth breather)
2. Susceptibility:
   - Is there a family history of perio?
3. Risk:
   - Do they have any established modifiable risk factors (e.g. smoking, poor diabetic control)

Question 20

Outline the features of high risk perio groups (4)

Answer 20

• Severe perio disease at early age
• Severe perio disease with good plaque control
• Risk of tooth loss by age of 40
• Irregular bone loss

Question 21

Outline the features of normal risk perio groups (4)

Answer 21

• Slowly progressing perio disease
• Associated with poor plaque control
• Risk of some tooth loss with advancing age
• Horizontal bone loss

Question 22

Outline the features of low risk perio groups (3)

Answer 22

• Little or no bone loss
• Perio inflammation without pocketing
• Keep teeth until old age.