The epidemiology of chronic periodontal disease in Western Nigerian schoolchildren.

Abstract

An epidemiological study of periodontal disease in Ibadan, Ilora, Akufo and Ijebu Ode schoolchildren aged 10 years and older was conducted in 1964. The study involved 1161 Ibadan, 227 Ilora, 85 Akufo and 147 Ijebu Ode schoolchildren. Periodontal disease was assessed using the Periodontal Index and oral cleanliness was assessed using the Oral Hygiene Index. Periodontal disease was highly prevalent, over 99 per cent of the children examined were affected. The periodontal disease was severe, the majority of the children had severe gingivitis or early destructive periodontal disease. There was a regional variation in the severity of periodontal disease. Periodontal pocketing was present in 11 per cent of Ilora, 15 per cent of Akufo, 40 per cent of Ibadan and 72 per cent of Ijebu Ode children aged 10 to 14 years. The P. I. for the Ibadan primary schoolchildren aged 15 to 19 years was higher than the P. I.for Ibadan secondary and grammar schoolchildren of a similar age. In Ibadan grammar schoolchildren the mean P. I. for 15 to 19 year olds was lower than the P. I. for 10 to 14 year olds whereas the P. I.for primary and secondary schoolchildren did not show this decrease with increasing age. The O.H.I. was higher in children aged 10 to 14 than 15 to 19 years and males had poorer oral cleanliness than females. It was concluded that the grammar schoolchildren had less severe periodontal disease and better oral cleanliness than primary and secondary schoolchildren and that there was a regional variation in the severity of periodontal disease which may be associated with variations in diet.