Prevalence and extent of lifetime cumulative attachment loss (LCAL) at different thresholds and associations with clinical variables: changes in a population of young male military recruits over 3 years
Gs. Griffiths et al., Prevalence and extent of lifetime cumulative attachment loss (LCAL) at different thresholds and associations with clinical variables: changes in a population of young male military recruits over 3 years, J CLIN PER, 28(10), 2001, pp. 961-969
Aim: The aims of this study were to monitor the prevalence and progression
of lifetime cumulative attachment loss (LCAL) in a group of young British m
ale military recruits over a 3-year period, and to determine the relationsh
ip between signs of LCAL and selected periodontal variables.
Methods: 100 subjects, aged 16-20 years (mean 17 years) at baseline. were e
xamined at 0 (baseline), 12 and 30 months. LCAL, probing depth, plaque, ble
eding on probing, gingival colour and supra- and subgingival calculus were
assessed on the mesio-buccal, disto-buccal, mesio-lingual and disto-lingual
surfaces of all teeth present, excluding third molars. Data were analysed
cross-sectionally at each examination.
Results: Over the period of the study, the prevalence of LCAL greater than
or equal to1 and 2 mm ranged from 95-100%, whereas LCAL greater than or equ
al to3 mm ranged from 40-47%. The extent of LCAL greater than or equal to1
mm ranged from 76-86%. However, the extent of LCAL greater than or equal to
2 mm was dramatically lower (10.5-12.7%), and LCAL greater than or equal to
3 mm was uncommon (0.5-0.9%). Examining the number of subjects according to
the number of sites affected above a threshold, showed that a small number
of subjects have a large number of sites above threshold. Using Pearson's
rank correlation coefficient a significant correlation (p <0.05) was found
between LCAL and the periodontal variables of gingival bleeding and supra-
and subgingival calculus.
Conclusions: These data suggest that the onset and progression of chronic p
eriodontitis can be seen in young adults, and in this group gingival bleedi
ng and supra- and subgingival calculus are the variables most strongly asso
ciated with early periodontitis.