Determination of relationship between socioeconomical status and need of periodontal treatment of school children in mixed and permanent dentition periods

Literature affirms that children and adolescents are not immun to gingival and periodontal pathology. In fact, gingivitis is a common finding in children of different geographic regions, countries, cultures and socioeconomic groups. Socioeconomic factors have been identified as predisposing factors in the development of periodontal disease and other oral diseases. Poor life style, low education and negative psychosocial condition could play an important role in the aetiology of these problems. The purpose of this study was to assess the periodontal health status and need for treatment among school children in mixed and permanent dentitions (6-17 years old) belonging to different socioeconomic levels in Isparta, Turkey. Data was collected using “Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs” (CPITN) to assess the periodontal treatment need. For this purpose; “gingival bleeding”, “calculus”, “dental plaque” and “periodontal pockets” were assessed .The children were divided to three socioeconomic classes based on Modified Kuppusw amy s SocioeconomicStatus Scale: “upper”, “middle” and “lower”. The data was analysed using Fisher’s exact tests. As the result of the study we determined that, children and adolescents that examined in different groups revealed similar evidence for periodontal treatment need. In our study, number of individuals that have gingival or periodontal symptoms or diseases as gingival bleeding, dental plaque or calculus, are greater than healty subjects in all socioeconomic levels. We thought that, the cause of high CPITN scores in all socioeconomic groups is consuming foods riched by carbonhydrate and poor oral hygien habits of children and adolescents.