Risk factor of chronic gingivitis in students aged 15-18 years. Colon, 2013

Abstract

Background: periodontal diseases are frequent affections among the population of Cuba and around the world. Young people diagnosed with chronic gingivitis predominate in the municipality of Colon, Province of Matanzas; therefore it is necessary to study the risk factors allowing designing and elaborating working and educative strategies. Aim: to identify risk factors related with chronic gingivitis among young people aged 15-18 years. Materials and methods: an observational, cross-sectional, descriptive study was carried out in the period January-April 2013 in a universe of 370 school students. The universe was totally studied. The studied variables were the following: demographic, risk factors and level of knowledge. The oral examination was carried out with a classification set and periodontal explorer in a mobile dental chair. The obtained results were expressed in tabular form using absolute numbers and percentages. The participation in the study was approved through informed consent. Outcomes: female sex predominated over the male one in 57.8 %; 83.3 % of the male studied students were affected; the deficient oral hygiene was present in 70.3 % of the cases, followed by smoking with 12.4 %. 71.7 % of the students had an unsatisfactory level of knowledge. Conclusions: there was a predominance of the female in the studied universe. Most of the male students had gingivitis. The deficient oral hygiene and smoking were the main related factors. An unsatisfactory level of knowledge predominated.