Report Confirms High Rates of Periodontitis Across the U.S.
New Mexico and Hawaii lead the nation in incidence of periodontal disease.
According to a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study published in the Journal of Dental Research, New Mexico and Hawaii lead the nation in incidence of periodontal disease, as the estimated prevalence of periodontitis is greater than 51% for residents ages 30 to 79. A graphic representation of the study, “Predicting Periodontitis at State and Local Levels in the United States,” shows a belt of unusually high incidence stretching across the Southwest and Southern states. Prevalence rates average about 45% nationally, with Utah (38%) and New Hampshire (41%) faring best.
The paper also notes that areas estimated to have the greatest concentrations of periodontal disease correspond with those linked to high rates of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The American Academy of Periodontology cites the report as an opportunity for clinicians to remind patients that periodontal disease is preventable, treatable and often reversible if patients floss regularly, brush twice a day, and undergo an annual comprehensive periodontal evaluation.
