Volume 86, Issue 5 p. 611-622
Clinical Science

Update on Prevalence of Periodontitis in Adults in the United States: NHANES 2009 to 2012

Paul I. Eke

Corresponding Author

Paul I. Eke

Division of Population Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA.

Correspondence: Dr. Paul I. Eke, Division of Population Health, National Center for Chronic Disease and Health Promotion, CDC, Atlanta, GA 30341. Fax: 770/488-5964; e-mail: [email protected].Search for more papers by this author
Bruce A. Dye

Bruce A. Dye

Division of Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, CDC, Hyattsville, MD.

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Liang Wei

Liang Wei

DB Consulting Group, Atlanta, GA.

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Gary D. Slade

Gary D. Slade

Department of Dental Ecology, University of North Carolina School of Dentistry, Chapel Hill, NC.

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Gina O. Thornton-Evans

Gina O. Thornton-Evans

Division of Oral Health, CDC, Atlanta, GA.

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Wenche S. Borgnakke

Wenche S. Borgnakke

Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI.

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George W. Taylor

George W. Taylor

Department of Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences, University of California School of Dentistry, San Francisco, CA.

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Roy C. Page

Roy C. Page

Department of Periodontics, University of Washington School of Dentistry, Seattle, WA.

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James D. Beck

James D. Beck

Department of Dental Ecology, University of North Carolina School of Dentistry, Chapel Hill, NC.

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Robert J. Genco

Robert J. Genco

Department of Oral Biology, State University of New York School of Dental Medicine, Buffalo, NY.

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First published: 01 May 2015
Citations: 1,057

Abstract

Background: This report describes prevalence, severity, and extent of periodontitis in the US adult population using combined data from the 2009 to 2010 and 2011 to 2012 cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

Methods: Estimates were derived for dentate adults, aged ≥30 years, from the US civilian non-institutionalized population. Periodontitis was defined by combinations of clinical attachment loss (AL) and periodontal probing depth (PD) from six sites per tooth on all teeth, except third molars, using standard surveillance case definitions. For the first time in NHANES history, sufficient numbers of non-Hispanic Asians were sampled in 2011 to 2012 to provide reliable estimates of their periodontitis prevalence.

Results: In 2009 to 2012, 46% of US adults, representing 64.7 million people, had periodontitis, with 8.9% having severe periodontitis. Overall, 3.8% of all periodontal sites (10.6% of all teeth) had PD ≥4 mm, and 19.3% of sites (37.4% teeth) had AL ≥3 mm. Periodontitis prevalence was positively associated with increasing age and was higher among males. Periodontitis prevalence was highest in Hispanics (63.5%) and non-Hispanic blacks (59.1%), followed by non-Hispanic Asian Americans (50.0%), and lowest in non-Hispanic whites (40.8%). Prevalence varied two-fold between the lowest and highest levels of socioeconomic status, whether defined by poverty or education.

Conclusions: This study confirms a high prevalence of periodontitis in US adults aged ≥30 years, with almost fifty-percent affected. The prevalence was greater in non-Hispanic Asians than non-Hispanic whites, although lower than other minorities. The distribution provides valuable information for population-based action to prevent or manage periodontitis in US adults.