Global prevalence of periodontitis: A literarure review

Abstract

The prevalence of periodontitis is dependent on the studied population and the case definition adopted. Periodontal diseases assume a greater global importance as the senior population is on the rise in most countries. The aim of this article is to review the global prevalence of periodontitis. Studies describing the prevalence of periodontitis in the world were searched through various indices using the key words ‘periodontitis, national survey, prevalence’ and reviewed. Many national surveys have used the WHO method for assessing prevalence. Yet several studies have not used the community periodontal index (CPI) for periodontitis case definition. Most surveys have used partial recording which can underestimate the periodontitis prevalence. There is a need for a standardized and valid population-based case definition of periodontitis.