Oral hygiene and periodontal condition of 12- and 15-year-old Greek adolescents. Socio-behavioural risk indicators, self- rated oral health and changes in 10 years

Authors

  • I Diamanti Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, School of Dentistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens
  • ED Berdouses Paediatric Dental Practice, Athens
  • K Kavvadia Division of Paediatric Dentistry, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY
  • KN Arapostathis Department of Paediatric Dentistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki
  • A Polychronopoulou Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, School of Dentistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens
  • CJ Oulis Department of Paediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.23804/ejpd.2021.22.02.3

Keywords:

Periodontal status, oral hygiene, adolescents, national pathfinder survey, socio-behavioural indicators, self-rated oral health

Abstract

AIM: To investigate oral hygiene and periodontal status of 12- and 15-year-old Greek adolescents in relation to socio-demographic and behavioural indicators and identify national trends. MATERIALS: In a stratified cluster sample of 2,478 participants, the Simplified Debris Index (DI-S) and the Community Periodontal Index (CPI) were calculated. Socio-demographic/behavioural data were collected through structured questionnaires. Multivariate ordinary regression examined the effect of socio-behavioural indicators on oral hygiene and periodontal conditions. CONCLUSION: Periodontal health promotion strategies should target vulnerable sub-groups of adolescents to reduce future periodontal burden. Self-rated oral health may be useful for identifying unmet periodontal treatment needs.