NATURAL-HISTORY OF PERIODONTAL-DISEASE IN MAN - CHANGES IN GINGIVAL HEALTH AND ORAL HYGIENE BEFORE 40 YEARS OF AGE

This report (the 4th in a series) waas derived from a longitudinal study of the development and progress of periodontla disease and resultant tooth loss. The first population group was established in Oslo, Norway in 1969 and Consisited of 565 male, nono‐dental students and academicians between 17 and 30+ years. A second group was establishe in Sri Lanka in 1970 and consisted of 480 male tea laborers between 15 and 30+ years. Both populations were examined 4 times and the time span between the first and fourth examinations was in Oslo 6 years ad 3 months, In Sri Lanka 7 years and 6 months. Each participant was scored for various disease parameters including the Plaque and Gingival Indices systems. The results show that for the 17 year old Norwegian the overall gingival state was good to excellent and comparable to that reported for Scandinavian dental students. There was no increase in prevalence and severity of gingival from the late teens to approximately 40 years of age. The 17 year old Sri Lankan's gingival health was considerably poorer, and a slight increase i GI levels occurred toward teh age of 40 years. In Norwegians, approximately 60–70 percent of all tooth surfaces did not have visible plaque and oral hygiene continued to improve towards 40 years of age. In the Sri Lankans, clinically recognized plaque regularly covered almost all tooth surfaces at 15 years old and no significant change occurred before 40 years of age. Copyright © 1979, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved