Current epidemiologic consideration of periodontal disease.

Two interesting populations in periodontology have emerged this year. National and international reports have indicated that inflammatory periodontal disease is widespread in adolescents, although most of the cases of disease are considered to be in a reversible stage. Nevertheless, the attachment loss present portends serious future problems. The rapidly growing elderly population presents a unique problem of assessment. Current indices do not adequately evaluate recession. Thus, there is substantial underestimation of periodontal disease in the elderly. Further insight into the interrelationships between systemic diseases and local inflammatory periodontal diseases has been reported. Methods to improve statistical evaluation of site-specific periodontal data and address the shortcomings of currently available periodontal indices have been suggested. Finally, the major disadvantage of indices in treatment planning is the lack of specific treatment goals. Examples of the potentially misleading information that results from this lack were presented and the inclusion of treatment goals with treatment needs was suggested.