• Original article (Public health) • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Epidemiological study on periodontal health status of medical students

LI Chao-lun, LIU Da-li, XIE Yu-feng, SONG Zhong-chen, GE Lin-hua, SHU Rong   

  1. Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Department of Periodontology, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, China
  • Online:2017-04-28 Published:2017-05-04
  • Supported by:

    Major Project Supported by Shanghai Science and Technology Commission, 13411951300; Shanghai Municipal Education Commission— Gaofeng Clinical Medicine Grant Support

Abstract:

Objective · To investigate and analyze periodontal health knowledge and behaviors in medical students and the relationship of these knowledge and behaviors with periodontal health status, and to determine the periodontal health level of this population. Methods · A total of 602 medical students were included in this cross-sectional epidemiological study. The questionnaire covered sociodemographic information, periodontal health-related behaviors and knowledge, experience about themselves, and periodontal health of parents, etc. Meanwhile, periodontal health indices of index teeth were examined, including probing depth (PD), clinical attachment loss (CAL), and bleeding on probing (BOP), etc. Results · Of 570 subjects aged 16-26 who completed the survey, 79.82% never used dental floss, and 78.25% never underwent periodontal debridement. 50.25% of the index teeth had BOP, and only 0.70% of the subjects had no BOP. 81.05% of the subjects had some degree of periodontal attachment loss. Male students were more susceptible to periodontitis (P=0.027) and gingivitis (P=0.012) than female students. Conclusion · No new risk factors affecting the periodontal health are identified. Regular periodontal cleaning and protection are important for young people to prevent periodontitis.

Key words:  cross-sectional study, epidemiology, gingivitis, periodontitis