[Epidemiological study of periodontal disease in an Oviedo school population].

1,276 young people, between 6-20 years old, representing the urban school population from Oviedo (Spain) were evaluated by the Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (C.P.I.T.N.). From this population: 1. 66.1% were found to have bleeding on probing, without evidence of attachment loss (gingivitis), or presence of local irritants. This population represented a treatment need of improving oral hygiene. 2. 29.6% had moderate attachment loss (probing pocket depths between 4-5 mm.) and/or presence of local irritants. They were determined to need scaling and root planing. 3. 0.7% had probing pocket depths higher than 6 mm., which requires a more complex specialized type of therapy. Based on these treatment needs, the number of treatment hours was determined, estimating that it would be necessary to spend 1649 hrs. to diagnose and treat this detected periodontal conditions. 93% of this time could be provided by dental auxiliary personnel. The therapeutic needs were higher in males and clearly augmented with age.