Tannvegsástand, munnhirða og munnhirðuvenjur 16-18 ára unglinga í Reykjavík

Abstract

The aim of this investigation was to study the periodontal health, oral hygiene and oral hygiene habits of 16 - 18 year olds in Reykjavik, Iceland and to evaluate the effects of smoking on these parameters. In 1987 and 1988, 402 six year olds attending 13 elementary schools in Reykjavik were invited to participate in a study on the prevalence of malocclusion, craniofacial skeletal and soft tissue morphology and also to have their gingival condition evaluated at the same time. Ten years later, all those who had participated in the original study were again invited to take part in a second similar study and this time 276 accepted the invitation. Before the clinical examination was performed, the subjects were asked to complete a written questionnaire on oral hygiene practices and smoking habits. The gingival status was assessed on the mesiobuccal and buccal of 6 teeth (Ramfjord teeth) using the Gingival Bleeding Index (GBI). Dental plaque was assessed on the mesial, lingual and buccal surfaces of the same 6 teeth using the Plaque Index (PLI). The periodontal condition was determined using the Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN). Only 5.8% were determined to be healthy according to the criteria of the CPITN, 39.1% had gingivitis as the highest score and 55.1% had calculus. None was found to have 4 mm. or deeper pockets. The majority of subjects (66.3%) stated that they brushed their teeth twice or more often daily but 5 subjects (1.8%) brushed their teeth less than once a day. Those using dental floss or toothpicks daily were 10.5%, girls using dental floss significantly more often than boys (p<0.001). Smoking was practiced by 21.5% of respondents and of those 80.7% smoked between 6 and 20 cigarettes per day. No significant difference was found between the number of boys and girls who smoked or the number of cigarettes smoked per day. Smokers had significantly higher PLI scores than non smokers (p<0.001) but no difference was found for either GBI or CPITN scores between smokers or non smokers. Subjects who brushed their teeth once daily had significantly higher mean PLI and GBI scores for total surfaces than those who brushed two or more times daily (p<0.05). No statistically significant difference in PLI, GBI or CPITN scores was found between those who practiced interdental cleaning and those who did not. The results of this study show that gingivitis is common amongst 16-18 year old Icelandic adolescents but periodontal pockets were not found. The daily use of toothbrush and toothpaste is almost universal in this population but only 10.5% practice daily interdental cleaning. Smoking does not seem to have had a deleterious effect on the periodontal condition of subjects of this age.