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Detection of high‐risk groups and individuals for periodontal diseases
Author(s) -
Johnson N. W.,
Griffiths G. S.,
Wilton J. M. A.,
Maiden M. F. J.,
Curtis M. A.,
Gillett I. R.,
Wilson D. T.,
Sterne J. A. C.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
journal of clinical periodontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.456
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1600-051X
pISSN - 0303-6979
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-051x.1988.tb01584.x
Subject(s) - gingivitis , periodontitis , oral hygiene , epidemiology , medicine , population , dentistry , environmental health , pathology
It is argued that the periodontal diseases can no longer be regarded as universally prevalent conditions to which all members of the world's population are at equal risk if they fail to practise good oral hygiene. Rather, they should be regarded as a range of different diseases for each of which certain individuals, which together comprise certain minority groups, are at relatively high risk. The epidemiological evidence for the existence of high‐risk groups is reviewed, from which it is concluded that world‐wide the prevalence of severe destructive periodontitis is of the order of only 7–15% of the adult dentate population. A working classification of the different types of gingivitis and periodontitis is offered, as is a summary of the theoretically possible approaches to the detection of high‐risk groups and individuals which are explored in detail in subsequent papers. Successful identification of such individuals will permit scientifically valid, rational and targetted prevention and treatment.