Analysis of alveolar bone loss and related factors in patients with aggressive periodontitis

Abstract

To evaluate the alveolar bone loss status and the related factors in aggressive periodontitis (AgP) patients. A total of 108 untreated AgP patients were included. The patients averaged 27.7 years of age with 45 males and 63 females. Twenty males were current smokers and the smoking status was evaluated by cigarette/day and packyears. The educational condition of the patients was recorded. The proximal probing depth (PD) of each tooth in all patients was measured and assessed (shallow: PD = 3, 4 mm, moderate: PD = 5, 6 mm, deep: PD ≥ 7 mm). The alveolar bone loss was assessed on a full set of periapical radiographs. The number of teeth with bone loss was scored in three categories (light bone loss, moderate bone loss and severe bone loss) for each patient. Based on the number of teeth (≥ 8 teeth) with severe alveolar bone loss and of the teeth lost, the patients (n = 108) were divided into severe AgP group (n = 61), and light-moderate group (n = 47). There were significantly positive correlations between shallow pocket and light bone loss (r = 0.518, P = 0.000) or deep pocket and severe bone loss (r = 0.366, P = 0.000) in proximal sites. The number of teeth with light bone loss, moderate bone loss and severe bone loss was not significantly different between male (7.1 ± 6.2, 12.5 ± 4.7 and 5.1 ± 0.6) and female group (8.7 ± 6.3, 12.9 ± 4.8, 4.2 ± 0.5, P values were 0.707, 0.671 and 0.413 respectively). There were more teeth with moderate bone loss and severe bone loss in the elderly than in the young (13.6 ± 4.2 vs 11.0 ± 5.5, 5.2 ± 3.7 vs 3.6 ± 3.5, P < 0.01). The difference of teeth number with light bone loss, moderate bone loss and severe bone was not found between higher education and non-higher education groups (P values were 0.314, 0.862 and 0.407). Smoking status had a significant positive correlation with the number of the teeth with severe bone loss(r = 0.575, P = 0.032). The bone loss status is related to the pocket depth. Smoking and age are risk factors for alvelar bone loss in AgP patients.