A Longitudinal Study of Chronic Periodontitis in Two Cohorts of Community-Dwelling Elderly Australians

Background: The study aimed to estimate and compare the incidence and progression of chronic periodontitis among two generations of older Australian adults. Methods: Data were from two population-based cohort studies of Australian older adults aged 60+ years South Australian Dental Longitudinal Studies (SADLS), SADLS I (1991–1992) and SADLS II (2013–2014). American Academy of Periodontology/the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC/AAP), and the 2018 European Federation of Periodontology classification (EFP/AAP) case definitions were used to define and calculate the incidence and progression of chronic periodontitis. Multivariable Poisson regression models were used to estimate incidence risk ratios (IRRs) of periodontitis. Results: A total 567 and 201 dentate respondents had periodontal exams in SADLS I and II, respectively. The incidence rate was greater in SADLS II than in SADLS I, approximately 200 vs. 100/1000 person years, respectively. Current smokers had more than two times higher IRRs, 2.38 (1.30–4.34) and 2.30 (1.24–4.26), than their non-smoking counterparts in the previous generation under the CDC/AAP and EFP/AAP, respectively. Conclusions: The most recent generation of older adults has greater incidence and progression of periodontitis than the previous generation. Being a current tobacco smoker was a significant risk factor for both the incidence and progression of periodontitis.