A growing amount of evidence suggests poor oral health is a risk factor for a number of health conditions, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and pneumonia. High costs for clinical assessment of periodontal disease limit information needed to assess the prevalence and trends of periodontal diseases in the United States population. However, self-reports can be used to assess the population-based prevalence of various medical conditions and health-related behaviors and characteristics. The goal of an analysis by Taylor and Borgnakke was to identify self-report items correlated with clinical periodontal disease. Data were collected for a project that focused on oral health and included face-to-face interview items regarding oral health-related self-care, professional care, and barriers; knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes; risk behaviors; impact on quality of life; and demographic characteristics. To validate the data, participants had complete oral examinations. Analyses identified self-reported items contributing to two models that predicted moderate or severe periodontal disease. Age, gender, race/ethnicity, smoking, and periodontal health-related self-report items produced predictive models with maximum sensitivity and specificity.

VALUE OF STUDY TO READER: The analyses suggest that self-report may be valid for surveillance of periodontal disease burden and trends in the American population, in place of more costly clinical periodontal examinations. Most readers likely do not recognize the importance of oral health as a risk factor for a number of chronic illnesses. It is hoped that more research on the topic will be conducted in the future.

GW Taylor, WS Borgnakke. Self-reported periodontal disease: validation in an epidemiological survey. Journal of Periodontics, 2007;78:1407-1420.