Periodontal disease among 45–54 year olds in Adelaide, South Australia

Background: The aims of this study were to describe the prevalence, extent and severity of periodontal disease among middle‐aged adults, and to examine periodontitis by dental visit pattern, dental and health behaviour, socio‐demographics and socio‐economic status. Methods: A random sample of 45–54 year olds from metropolitan Adelaide, South Australia was surveyed by mailed self‐complete questionnaire during 2004–2005 with up to four follow‐up mailings of the questionnaire to non‐respondents (n=879 responded, response rate=43.8 per cent). Oral examinations were performed on 709 people who responded to the questionnaire (completion rate=80.7 per cent), providing an assessment of periodontal status. Results: Prevalence of loss of attachment (LOA) of 6+ mm was 19.2 per cent, extent of sites with LOA of 6+ mm was 1.3 per cent, and severity of LOA of sites with LOA of 2+ mm was 2.4mm. Using a case definition for periodontitis of two or more sites with LOA of 5+ mm and one or more sites with PD of 4+ mm in a multivariate logistic regression showed higher odds of periodontitis for people who last visited for relief of pain (OR=1.93) and who smoked daily/occasionally (OR=3.84), while lower odds were observed for people who were born in Australia (OR=0.51) and spoke English as the main language at home (OR=0.34). Conclusions: While periodontal disease was related to visit pattern and health‐related behaviours, the relationship with place of birth and main language spoken at home indicated socio‐cultural variation in disease not explained by behaviour among this cohort of 45–54 year olds.