Background: The influence of socioeconomic factors on health outcomes is well-established. Although periodontal disease is linked to cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, there have been no studies focusing on socioeconomic disparities in periodontal disease among Egyptian adults. This study aimed to evaluate how socioeconomic status and oral hygiene practices affect the periodontal health of Egyptian adults.
Methods: A periodontal assessment was conducted on 456 adults who visited outpatient and paid treatment clinics at the Faculty of Dentistry, Cairo University. Data on socio-demographics, brushing techniques, brushing frequency, and periodontal health knowledge were collected through a questionnaire.
Results: This observational, cross-sectional study included 456 adults (267 women and 189 men). The prevalence of periodontal disease was found to be 89.1%, with 54.6% of participants classified as having stage I periodontitis and 22.8% in stage II. Only 8.6% and 3.1% progressed to stages III and IV, respectively. Factors such as age, low socioeconomic status, infrequent brushing, and being male were positively correlated with the presence of periodontal disease. Conversely, being female, brushing frequently, and utilizing effective brushing techniques showed a negative correlation with the disease. Participants without periodontitis and those with stage I exhibited a better understanding of the causes of periodontal disease, the importance of regular dental visits, and the factors contributing to gum recession.
Conclusions: The study highlighted that age, socioeconomic status, brushing frequency, and the use of proper brushing techniques are significant factors impacting the prevalence and severity of periodontal diseases.