The natural history of periodontal attachment loss during the third and fourth decades of life
Conflict of interest and source of funding: statement
The authors declare no conflicts of interest in relation to the work presented in this article. The age-26 dental data collection was supported by the New Zealand Dental Association Research Foundation and the University of Otago. The age-32 dental data collection was supported by Grant R01 DE-015260-01A1 from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, USA, and a programme grant from the New Zealand Health Research Council (NZ HRC). The age-38 data collection was supported by a programme grant from the NZ HRC. The Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Unit is supported by the NZ HRC.
Abstract
Aim
To describe changes in the occurrence of periodontal attachment loss (AL) through ages 26, 32 and 38 in a complete birth cohort.
Materials and Methods
Systematic periodontal examinations conducted at ages 26, 32 and 38 in a longstanding New Zealand cohort study (N = 1037). Periodontitis extent data were used to assign participants to periodontitis trajectories using group-based trajectory analysis.
Results
Eight hundred and thirty-one individuals were periodontally examined at all three ages; the prevalence and extent of AL increased as the cohort aged. Between 26 and 32, one in nine participants had 1+ sites showing new or progressing AL; that proportion almost doubled between ages 32 and 38. Four periodontitis trajectory groups were identified, comprising 55.2%, 31.5%, 10.7% and 2.5% of the cohort; these were termed the “Very low”, “Low”, “Moderately increasing” and “Markedly increasing” trajectory groups respectively. Those who had smoked tobacco at all ages from 15 through 38 were at higher risk of being in the “Moderately increasing” or “Markedly increasing” trajectory groups. There was a similar risk gradient for those who were in the highest 20% of cannabis usage.
Conclusions
Periodontitis commences relatively early in adulthood, and its progression accelerates with age, particularly among smokers.
