Prevalence of chronic periodontitis in Meerut: A cross-sectional survey

BACKGROUND: Chronic periodontitis is seen in majority of population and is responsible for the high tooth morbidity as well as mortality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One thousand and twenty-six subjects were selected by multistage stratified randomized sampling technique. They were examined in free dental camps organized in preselected rural areas by using community periodontal index of treatment need. The impact of known risk factors for periodontal disease, e.g., oral hygiene habits, age, gender, smoking, and pan + tobacco chewing, was also observed. RESULTS: Deep pockets were observed in 52.7% of the subjects and 17.8% of the sextants. Shallow pockets were observed in 37.4% of the subjects and 36.4% of the sextants. Calculus had the highest score in 9.8% of the subjects and 43.8% of the sextants. None of the subjects and negligible number of the sextants was found to be having bleeding or healthy periodontium as the highest score. CONCLUSION: Periodontal disease severity was found to be increased with increasing age. Severity was also more in smokers and in the subjects using finger and powder to maintain their oral hygiene.