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Periodontal status of older Floridians attending senior activity centers
Author(s) -
Gilbert Gregg H.,
Heft Marc W.
Publication year - 1992
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.1992.tb00462.x
Subject(s) - cementoenamel junction , clinical attachment loss , medicine , tooth loss , periodontitis , dentistry , older people , oral health , gerontology , molar
Older adults attending senior activity centers in Florida cooperated for a questionnaire and an oral examination. The 671 ambulatory dentate seniors in this report had a mean of 17.0 teeth. The mean attachment loss was 3.5 mm from the cementoenamel junction (CEJ), and the mean pocket depth was 2.1 nun. 24% of the sample had at least 1 site with attachment loss of 7 or more mm; the majority of these persons had only 1 or 2 severely‐involved sites. The extent and severity index of attachment loss (2 mm or more threshold) was (88%. 3.7 mm). Use of pocket depths alone would have substantially underestimated prevalence of periodontitis in this older sample. Sites with severe attachment loss were typically not accompanied by severe pockets. Evidence of a history of moderate disease in this cross‐sectional study was prevalent (62% of persons had a maximum attachment loss of 4–6 mm), as was evidence of a history of severe disease (24% had at least 1 site with attachment loss of 7 mm or more).