Periodontal status and treatment needs among state government employees in Shimla city, Himachal Pradesh (India): A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Aim : The aim of this study was to assess the periodontal status and treatment needs among state government employees in Shimla city, Himachal Pradesh, India. Materials and Methods : The observational cross-sectional study was conducted on 1008 dentate subjects between 25th February 2009 and 10th April 2009. The community periodontal index (CPI) was used in accordance with WHO criteria. The examinations were carried out at the working place of the employees by a single examiner; the intra-observer Kappa index was 0.83. Results: As regards the percentage of subjects in each highest CPI code group, it was found that only 1.45% of the sample was healthy, while 3.42% presented bleeding, calculus was present in 59.8%, and 19.32% and 15.7% had pockets of 4-5 mm or of ≥ 6 mm, respectively. A higher percentage of females than males were healthy in all their sextants (2.91 vs. 2.36). Score 2 (calculus) was highest irrespective of age, gender and gazetted status. The presence of 4-5 mm pocket and calculus was significantly higher among non-gazetted than gazetted employees. The males presented a significantly higher need for oral hygiene instructions than the women (94.2% vs. 84.6%) and a greater need for scaling and root planning (82.9% vs. 69.1%). Complex treatments requirement increased with advancing age. Conclusion: Keeping in view the periodontal status and treatment needs, the government employees should be health educated and motivated to get periodontal treatment done at regular intervals.