Dental caries is associated with severe periodontitis in Chilean adults: a cross-sectional study

Background: The co-occurrence of caries and periodontitis and a possible association is still a matter of debate. Thus, the aim of the study was to determine the co-occurrence of caries and periodontitis in Chilean adults. Methods: Evaluation of periodontal and dental status in 994 adults (35-44 years old) based on the First Chilean National Examination Survey 2007-2008. The prevalence of caries was defined as the percentage of participants with one or more teeth with untreated caries by using the D component of the DMFT index (DT not equal 0). The prevalence of periodontitis was determined using standard case definitions for population-based surveillance of periodontitis described by the CDC-AAP. Results: Individuals with caries had an approximately 40% higher prevalence of severe (29.3% vs 20.8%, p < 0.05) and a 13% higher prevalence of total periodontitis (89.3% vs 78.4%, p < 0.05) than those without caries. Ordinal logistic regression revealed a positive association between periodontitis and the number of teeth with caries (DT not equal 0; 3 or 4 teeth with caries: OR 1.74; CI = 1.12-2.29 p < 0.05; 5 or more teeth with caries: OR 2.47; CI = 1.66-3.67 p < 0.01). Conclusion: Dental caries is associated with the severity and prevalence of periodontitis in Chilean adults. Individuals with 3 or more teeth with untreated caries are more likely to suffer from periodontal disease.