Summary
- Moderate and severe periodontitis was found in nearly one-quarter (24.2%) of Australian adults aged 18 years and older. Periodontitis is strongly age related, with prevalence increasing from 2.8% in 18–24 year olds to 60.8% in those aged 75 years and older. Periodontitis was more prevalent in males (28.1%) than females (20.2%).
- Periodontitis showed a social gradient against household income, decreasing from a prevalence of 42.6% in the lowest income category to 15.0% in the highest income category, with a rate ratio of 2.8:1 between the highest and lowest categories.
- When the prevalence of periodontitis was examined by household income after standardising for age and sex, the slope of the social gradient was reduced. The adjusted prevalence of periodontitis ranged from 33.5% in the lowest income category to 18.1% in the highest income category, with a rate ratio of 1.9:1 between the highest and lowest categories.
- The question of why the periodontal health of adults from lower income households is poorer requires further research.