A prospective longitudinal study on periodontal bone height changes in a Swedish population

Background, aims: This investigation was performed to assess longitudinal c hanges in periodontal bone height in an adult population over a period of 1 7 years. Methods: In 1973, a random sample of 1000 individuals aged 3-70 years in th e city of Jonkoping, Sweden, was examined clinically and radiographically t o assess dental status and treatment needs. Out of the 574 dentate individu als 15-60 years, 433 accepted the invitation and were re-examined in 1989-9 1, 4 were edentulous and the study therefore finally included 429 dentate i ndividuals. The examination included full mouth plaque and gingivitis score s and bone height measurements on full mouth intra-oral radiographs. All ag e groups except the youngest had very good oral hygiene with 50% or more ha ving plaque and gingivitis scores below 20%. Results: From the age of 20, there was a general pattern of bone height red uction over time corresponding to an annual loss of around 0.1 mm. From the age of 30 years, about 80% of the population had one or more sites with bo ne loss of 10% or more. Very few individuals, about 5%, exhibited an indivi dual mean bone loss of 2 mm or more. 17% had greater than or equal to 6 suc h sites indicating destructive periodontal disease. These individuals and s ites could not be identified in advance based only on previous disease expe rience.