Periodontal status of patients visiting a dental out patients department in dental college in Pune- A cross sectional epidemiological study

Aim: The present study was conducted with the aim to assess the prevalence of the periodontal status of the patients reporting to the Out Patients Department of a dental college in Pune. Objectives: Find the prevalence, extent and severity of the periodontal status and to associate it with the age, gender, socioeconomic status, systemic conditions, smoking etc. Chart out an appropriate periodontal health care program protocol for the patients visiting the college with periodontal problems. Methodology: Cross sectional study consisting of 700 patients reporting to OPD of dental college were included in study. Self designed structured proforma was used to record demographic details. Community periodontal index along with loss of attachment and gingival recession were recorded accordingly. Results: A total of 700 patients were included in the study. The gender distribution showed that there were 433 (62.2%) males and 267(37.8%) females. Males exhibited a higher percentage of clinical attachment loss of greaterthan 5mm ascompared to the females. Calculus was seen in 525 (74.4%) subjects and was seen maximum in the age group of 21-30 years and also a total of 3.28 sextants affected in the study population. Loss of attachment was seen in about 20.7% of the study subjects. Conclusion: Dental calculus was the most frequently reported condition in the population followed by shallow pockets. Periodontal health status of the individuals was significantly associated with age, sex (male), socioeconomic status (upper lower). Loss of attachment was strongly associated with age and socioeconomic status (upper lower) of the individual.