Original scientific paper
Prevalence of Periodontal Diseases in Zagreb Population, Croatia, 14 Years Ago and Today
Dragana Artuković
Stjepan Špalj
Alena Knežević
Darije Plančak
Vlatko Pandurić
Sandra Anić-Milošević
Tomislav Lauc
Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess prevalence of periodontal diseases within Zagreb adult population in 2000. The
sample comprised of 412 examinees of both sexes and all age groups. World Health Organization (WHO) methodology
and Community Periodontal Index (CPI), (1997) were used. The data gained was statistically assorted and compared
with the data from previously conducted research in 1986. Results showed relatively high prevalence of periodontal diseases.
No healthy periodontium was recorded in the 45-and-above age group. Shallow periodontal pockets was registered
in 12% of nineteen-year-olds, whereas this symptom was very evident in 45–54 age group (45.7%) and in older than 65
(48.2%). Over 90% of participants had insufficient oral hygiene and 80% required initial periodontal therapy. Approximately
20% needed complex periodontal treatment. Comparison of this data with the previous 1986 research showed improvement
of periodontal status in up-to-44 age group due to more healthy persons and more subjects with the initial
stages of disease. The possible reason for periodontal health improvement in the last 14 years, evident specially in younger
age groups, were the effects of large preventive program measures conducted on schoolchildren in Croatia in 1980-
-ties and terminated in 1990-ties when the war in Croatia started. Following studies are needed to monitor whether deterioration
in oral health will occur regarding to absence of organized preventive programs since 1990-ties.
Keywords
periodontal epidemiology; Community Periodontal Index; treatment need; Zagreb; Croatia
Hrčak ID:
27370
URI
Publication date:
10.4.2007.
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