Periodontitis Is the Sixth Most Prevalent Health Problem in the World

Periodontitis Is the Sixth Most Prevalent Health Problem in the World

Periodontitis is now the world’s sixth

most prevalent health problem, according to a report published online in the Journal of Dental Research. The paper, “Global

Burden of Periodontitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Regression,” includes

epidemiological data pertaining to periodontitis for 20 age groups between 1990

and 2010. More than 70 studies were investigated that included 291,000

participants from 37 countries. In 2010, periodontal diseases became the sixth

most prevalent health condition in the world, with an estimated 743 million

people affected. The prevalence of periodontitis is related to advancing age,

with a sharp increase occurring between the ages of 30 and 40. 

These findings highlight a serious

public health challenge, and underscore the burden of this disease on the world’s

population. The authors propose that policy-makers include periodontal diseases

in their analysis of global health care issues—especially in light of

increasing average life expectancies and decreasing tooth loss among older

adults. By raising awareness of this condition and its impact on both oral and

systemic health, more can be done to help educate the public about ways to prevent

or treat this condition and improve quality of life. 

Hygiene Connection E-Newsletter

October 2014