Prevalence of and risk indicators for chronic periodontitis in males from Campeche, Mexico.

OBJECTIVE Determining the prevalence, severity and extension of chronic periodontitis and identifying risk indicators amongst policemen in Campeche, Mexico, using an electron probe. MATERIALS AND METHODS A cross-sectional study of a convenience sample of 161 men was conducted. A case of periodontitis was defined as a participant having clinical attachment loss in at least one (3) 4 mm site. Every periodontal site in the mouth was measured by a standardized periodontist using a Florida Probe System. STATA 8.2 was used for bivariate and multivariate statistical analysis, using logistic binary regression. RESULTS Mean age was 38.36+/-10.99 years. 23,622 periodontal sites were available for examination. Mean (SD) teeth and sites examined per person were 24.45+/-4.63 and 146.72+/-27.80, respectively. Periodontitis prevalence was 62.7%. Periodontitis severity was 2.9 mm and extent was 53.7%. Adjusted for alcohol intake, factors associated with periodontitis prevalence were being older ((3)35 years; OR=2.08; CI95%=1.05-4.10), smoking (current/former; OR=2.22; CI95%=1.06-4.77) and gingivitis (presence; OR=3.35; CI95%=1.34-8.42). CONCLUSIONS Many study participants had poor periodontal conditions, with substantial overall prevalence of periodontitis. Older age, tobacco use and the presence of gingivitis were factors associated with periodontitis prevalence.