Professional paper
https://doi.org/10.24141/1/12/2/9
Public health aspects of periodontitis
Ivana Jurčić Čulina
; Zdravstveno veleučilište Zagreb, Zagreb, Hrvatska
*
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
Periodontitis is a complex, chronic inflammatory disease
caused by specific periodontal pathogenic bacteria
in dental plaque and their byproducts, as well as the
host’s immune response, leading to the development
of inflammation, tissue breakdown, and destruction of
the periodontium. The course and extent of the disease
are influenced by environmental, behavioral, and genetic
variables, as well as systemic diseases, poor oral
hygiene, obesity, stress, and other factors, giving it a
multifactorial character. Its impact on patient quality of
life and systemic health, as well as the bidirectional relationship
between the two, has been extensively confirmed
over the past decades.
The latest classification of periodontal diseases divides
periodontitis into necrotizing periodontitis, periodontitis
as a manifestation of systemic diseases, and generalized
periodontitis. The diagnosis of a patient with periodontitis
is preceded by taking a detailed medical and
dental history, an intraoral examination, X-ray analysis,
and determination of the periodontal status. Non-surgical
therapy, if it does not yield satisfactory results, may
lead to periodontal surgical procedures, followed by a
restorative phase and systematic monitoring of the patient.
The ultimate consequence of periodontitis is the complete
loss of permanent teeth, which imposes significant
health, social, and economic burdens that contribute
to global health and social inequalities. The
prevalence of periodontitis is significantly higher in
low- and middle-income countries due to limited access
to dental care, inadequate oral hygiene practices, and a lack of oral health education. In high-income countries,
periodontitis persists as a significant public health concern
attributable to various risk factors such as tobacco
use, diabetes, demographic variables, and the rising
prevalence of natural tooth retention.
According to the World Health Organization, about 47%
of the population over 30 years of age suffers from some
form of periodontitis, while among the population over
65 years of age, this figure ranges up to 70%, and it is
predicted that by 2050, more than 1.5 billion people
will have severe periodontitis. Integrated public health
strategies, targeted interventions, a multidisciplinary
approach to evidence-based prevention and treatment,
and strengthening preventive care are the foundation
for addressing this issue.
The aforementioned evidence offers novel insights into
the epidemiology of periodontal diseases and substantiates
the need for targeted interventions and public
health strategies; accordingly, the objective of this paper
is to present these findings.
Keywords
multifactorial nature of periodontitis; global prevalence of periodontitis; socioeconomic impact of periodontitis; public health interventions and strategies
Hrčak ID:
346609
URI
Publication date:
28.4.2026.
Visits: 63 *