Faculty, Staff and Student Publications
Language
English
Publication Date
6-1-2026
Journal
Journal of Periodontology
DOI
10.1002/jper.70053
PMID
41653406
PMCID
PMC13350288
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
2-7-2026
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Post-print
Abstract
Background: The aim of the present study was to examine whether age and sex affected the prevalence and severity of periodontal conditions in patients attending an academic dental clinic.
Methods: Electronic health record (EHR) data on the demographic characteristics and periodontal conditions of patients presented for a comprehensive periodontal evaluation were extracted from the institutional dental EHR database. Retrospective analysis of independent associations of age, sex, and other subject characteristics with periodontal conditions was determined using multinomial logistic regression. The null hypothesis stating that age and sex were not associated with the increased prevalence and/or severity of periodontal conditions was tested at a significance level α < 0.05.
Results: A total of 5027 subjects met the inclusion criteria. Clinical gingival health (CGH), gingivitis, and periodontitis were diagnosed in 4.2%, 5.2%, and 55.8% of patients, respectively. Severe periodontitis was diagnosed in 84.6% of the 4302 patients with periodontitis and was significantly associated with each year of age increase (odds ratio [OR] 1.13; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11, 1.15) and male sex (OR 2.02; 95% CI 1.30, 3.15). The combined effect of a 15-year age increase and male sex was reflected in the increased odds of severe periodontitis (OR 12.63; 95% CI 9.57, 16.67). The combined effect of older age and male sex is shown by the increased odds of severe periodontitis (OR 12.63; 95% CI 9.57, 16.67). Similar associations were found between age, male sex, and total periodontitis, but not CGH and gingivitis.
Conclusion: Increasing age and male sex significantly correlated with increased odds of total and severe periodontitis.
Plain language summary: Periodontitis, or inflammatory gum disease, affects many adults in the United States and worldwide. Various factors, such as smoking and diabetes mellitus, increase the risk of periodontitis and the severity of its symptoms. To determine if periodontitis occurs more commonly and is more severe according to patient age and sex, the study used health records from almost 8,000 patients attending dental clinics at the University of Texas School of Dentistry (Houston, TX) from 2007 to 2020. The results demonstrated that adult patients who were older or males had periodontitis more often than those who were younger or female, respectively. Periodontitis was also more severe in older or male patients. These results show that older adults and males can be considered vulnerable individuals when it comes to diagnosing periodontitis. Therefore, dentists should pay more attention to these patients, and individualized treatment methods need to be considered for providing dental care to the gums of these patients.
Keywords
Humans, Male, Sex Factors, Retrospective Studies, Age Factors, Female, Prevalence, Gingivitis, Middle Aged, Adult, Aged, Periodontal Diseases, Severity of Illness Index, Academia, Adolescent, Young Adult, Electronic Health Records, Periodontitis, dental records, epidemiology, geriatrics, periodontal disease(s)/periodontitis, risk factors, sex characteristics
Published Open-Access
yes
Recommended Citation
, "Age and Sex Affect the Prevalence and Severity of Periodontal Conditions in an Academic Setting" (2026). Faculty, Staff and Student Publications. 178.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/uthdb_docs/178