2. Risk is the probability that an individual will get a specific
disease in a given period.
Risk factor is a characteristic, an aspect of behavior, or
an environmental exposure that is associated with a disease.
Risk factors may be environmental, behavioral,
or biologic factors that, when present, increase the
likelihood that an individual will get the disease2.
3. Risk indicators are probable risk factors that have been
identified in cross-sectional studies but not confirmed
through longitudinal studies.
Risk predictors/markers although associated with
increased risk for disease, do not cause the disease.
Risk determinant / background characteristic
are the risk factors that cannot be modified.
Relative risk defined as the ratio of the risk of disease in
the exposed group to the risk in the unexposed group.
Obtained only from longitudinal studies. 3
6. Tobacco smoking is a well established risk
factor for periodontitis. A direct relationship exists
between smoking & the prevalence of periodontal
disease. This association is independent of other
factors, such as oral hygiene or age.
Berjstrom J. (1989) concluded that greater
frequencies of periodontally involved teeth &
diseased sites were found in smokers, indicating
more severe disease among smokers as compared
with non-smokers.
Cigarette smokingas a risk factor in chronic periodontal disease, Community Dent Oral
Epidemiol 1989, Oct; 17 (5)
7 : 245-7.
8. Although bacterial infection is the etiologic
agent in periodontal disease, studies of identical
twins suggest 50% of susceptibility to periodontal
disease is due to host factors.
Michalowiczet al., 2000
Similarly, indigenous and relatively isolated
populations have been shown to develop distinct
periodontal disease that differ from group to group.
Dowsett et al., 2001;Ronderoset a
35 l., 2001
9. an increased incidence of
Ageing is associated with
periodontal disease.
Grossi et al., 1994; Grossi et al., 1995
However it has been suggested that the increased level of
periodontal destruction observed with aging is the result of
cumulative destruction rather than a result of increased
rates of destruction.
Thus aging is not a risk factor per se.
Genco, 1996
9
10. Gender plays an important role in periodontal disease.
United States national surveys conducted since 1960 demonstrate that
males have more loss of attachment than females.
Males have poorer oral hygiene than females, as evidenced by higher
levels of plaque and calculus.
Therefore it appears that gender differences in prevalence and severity
of periodontitis are related to preventive practices rather than any
genetic factor.
10
11. Beck and coworkers showed that blacks……….
More indicators related to socioeconomic……
P.intermedia was a risk factor for blacks but not for whites.
When blacks and whites belonged to the same socioeconomic
group, differences in periodontal disease often disappeared.
Grossi et al 1994, 1995
11
