THE PERIODONTAL STATUS OF IRREGULAR DENTAL ATTENDERS

The aim of this investigation was to assess the prevalence and severit y of periodontal destruction in irregular dental attenders. 50 subject s aged between 20 and 49 years completed a questionnaire and had a per iodontal examination. Measurements of plaque, calculus, bleeding, prob ing depth and clinical attachment level were made at 4 proximal sites per tooth. Results were compared to those for 132 regular attenders, T he irregular attenders had more sites with plaque (46.3 +/- 27% versus 17.3 +/- 21.1%) than the regulars and significantly more sires which bled (53.7 +/- 20.4% versus 33.6 +/- 20.7%) and with calculus (35 +/- 21.1% versus 13.4 +/- 12.8%). However, the irregulars had virtually th e same number of teeth as the regular attenders, 25.6 +/- 3.3 compared with 25.4 +/- 4.3. Irregular attenders had slightly deeper mean probi ng depths (2.9 +/- 0.4 versus 2.7 +/- 0.4 mm) but the prevalence and e xtent of attachment loss was no different between the groups. It was c oncluded that the prevalence and severity of destructive periodontal d isease as indicated by periodontal attachment loss was not related to the regularity of dental attendance in the groups studied.