Periodontal disease in the older patient

Population projections predict an increasing number of dentate older people who will require assessment and treatment of periodontal disease. Studies show that healthy, older patients show no increased risk of periodontal disease progression compared to younger individuals, while periodontal treatment can be equally successful in the older age group. However, co-morbidity can impact negatively on both the periodontal tissues and the dentition. These effects range from a reduced ability to maintain adequate plaque control, to the use of drug and other therapies directly affecting the periodontal tissues and salivary flow. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: An individualized treatment plan is required for older patients, taking account of all factors impacting on the periodontal tissues.     

Periodontal disease in men

In relation to periodontal diseases associated with sex‐steroid hormones, men have been the forgotten sex. It is not surprising that there has been less scrutiny of the effects of sex‐steroid hormones in men considering the more striking changes that occur in women during different periods of their life. Despite the gingival inflammatory changes reported in women, men have been reported to have a higher prevalence of destructive periodontal diseases. The information presented in this review will provide a contemporary evaluation of male susceptibility to periodontal diseases.     

Periodontal disease in dogs

The object of this investigation was to evaluate the prevalence and etiology of periodontal discase in dogs. The material comprised 62 dogs with an age range from three months to twelve years. Periodontal disease was registered by means of Russell's Periodontal Index and debris and calculus by Greene and Vermillion's Oral Hygiene Index. The following results were obtained: 1. Periodontal disease, debris and calculus were found in 97 % of dogs and showed a statistically significant increase with age. 2. Both calculus and deposits of debris on the teeth had a statistically significant, independent effect on the severity of periodontal disease. 3. Periodontal destruction occurs approximately five times faster in dogs than in humans. However, this may be explained by the greater amounts of deposits on the teeth of dogs.