SITE PROGRESSION OF LOSS OF ATTACHMENT OVER 5 YEARS IN 14-YEAR-OLD TO19-YEAR-OLD ADOLESCENTS

The aims of this study were (1) to monitor the progression and pattern s of progression of loss of attachment greater than or equal to 1 mm o n a site basis over a 5-year period in adolescents, and (2) to relate the presence of oral deposits and inflammation to the subsequent devel opment and progression of loss of attachment on a site basis. 167 subj ects were examined at ages 14, 16 and 19 years. Loss of attachment gre ater than or equal to 1 mm, plaque, subgingival calculus, gingival ble eding and gingival colour change were assessed on the mesio-buccal sit es of the Ist molars, Ist premolars and central incisors. Each site wa s treated separately in the analysis to avoid the problem of within-su bject site dependence. Sites were classed as progressing, non-progress ing or fluctuating according to the probing attachment level measureme nts at each of the 3 examinations. During the 5 years of this study, a total of 542 sites in 128 subjects progressed; 1136 sites in 162 subj ects did not progress; 43 sites in 30 subjects had fluctuating attachm ent level measurements. Sites which subsequently progressed had signif icantly more plaque, subgingival calculus and gingival inflammation th an non-progressing sites at the baseline examination and throughout th e study (p<0.001). Between 55-57% of the maxillary Ist molars and 46-4 9% of the mandibular incisors progressed. In contrast, there was no pr ogression of loss of attachment on over 80% of the maxillary central i ncisors and mandibular 1st premolars.