Clinical
for gums A widening issue
Periodontal disease is a growing problem for patients and dentists,
writes Dr Richard Lee Kin. Early diagnosis and intervention is crucial for better care – and for avoiding complaints and litigation
T
he current state of gum disease in Ireland is uncertain. The last significant research by the state was carried out almost ı5 years ago and
few comparisons with the ı989/ı990 research could be drawn due to the method of recording. Those 2002 results suggested a high
level of periodontal inflammation and disease in the population and worry- ingly disease levels higher among older age groups.
Epidemiologic data on periodontal diseases generally is of poor quality. A recent review on the literature on peri- odontal health in Europe concluded that actual epidemiological data on peri- odontal disease was non-homogenous and absent from several European countries (Konig et al., 20ı0). Another recent review (Leroy et al.,
20ı0) highlighted the problems with regards to the collection of reliable data on periodontal health and suggested how they could be improved. The national data for periodontal health
in EU member states that are available have been collected from relatively small samples and show very wide variations. It appears they are due to inconsisten- cies in methodology as much as to actual disease levels. The World Health Organisation (WHO)
plans to launch a revisited methodology for periodontal epidemiology in the future. In 20ı0, severe periodontitis was the
sixth most prevalent health condition in the world, affecting 743 million people worldwide. Between ı990 and 20ı0, the global age-standardised prevalence of severe gum disease was static at ıı.2 per cent (WHO 20ı0) Studies report how severe periodon-
titis effects 5-20 per cent of most adult population worldwide, and it is a major cause of tooth loss in both developed and developing countries (Petersen et al., 2005 Philstrom et al., 2005 Jin et al., 20ıı) In the US, it has been calculated that
almost half (47.2 per cent) the population suffer from either mild to moderate or severe form of gum disease (P.I Eke et al., 20ı2). Closer to home, 50 per cent to 90 per
cent of adults in the UK suffer from gingivitis (NICE 20ı2), while 54 per cent have moderate and 5 per cent have severe disease, according to the UK Dental Health Survey (Kelly 2000). It has also been suggested that more than
50 per cent of the European population suffers from some form of periodontitis, with more than ı0 per cent having severe disease (Konig et. al. 20ıı). In ageing populations, the prevalence
of periodontitis is even higher – 70-85 per cent of the population aged 60-65 years
of age (Eke PI et al ., 20ı2 ,Holtfreter B et al ., 20ı0). Periodontal health may be deteriorating
within the population of the EU. This is principally due to a large number of people who are retaining some of their teeth into old age, and an increase in the prevalence of diabetes. The recently published first WHO Global report on diabetes demon- strates that the number of adults living with diabetes has almost quadrupled since ı980 to 422 million adults (WHO 20ı6). In Ireland today, there are currently
more than 677,000 Irish citizens over the age of 66 and by the year 2050, there will be ı.8 million citizens over this age. In 2026, that number will be 767,300, meaning that in just ı0 years from now more than ı6 per cent of the population will be in retire- ment (
www.cso.ie/en/newsandevents/ pressreleases/) A dental health survey carried out by the
Irish Dental Association in February 20ı4 showed 80 per cent of Irish adults believed their gums were healthy. However, 80 per cent of Irish people have some form of gum disease. These findings suggest a significant disconnect, but not an unusual one. A poll of ı,000 people over the age of 35 showed that more than 75 per cent of American adults have some form of gum disease, yet only 60 per cent had any
Ireland’s Dental magazine 39 Continued »
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