Socioeconomic status and self-reported periodontal symptoms in community-dwelling individuals: data from the Korea Community Health Surveys of 2011 and 2013.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the association between socioeconomic status and self-reported periodontal symptoms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, data were used from the 2011 and 2013 Community Health Surveys. The 210,432 (weighted n = 36,294,413) and 220,396 (weighted n = 39,067,134) subjects, respectively, were aged 19 years or older. Proportional and systematic sampling was performed. Surveys were conducted by trained interviewers using computer-assisted personal interviewing. The proportions of subjects with tooth mobility, gingival swelling, calculus and gingival bleeding were calculated. Independent variables included sex, age and socioeconomic status measures (education, occupation and income). Differences in the self-reported periodontal symptoms rates according to socioeconomic status were determined using independent t-tests and one-way analysis of variance. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the association of periodontal symptoms with socioeconomic status.

RESULTS: Approximately 30% of the subjects reported at least one symptom of periodontal disease; 11.3% and 9.6% reported gingival bleeding and gingival swelling, respectively, while 5.6% and 3.5% reported dental calculus and tooth mobility, respectively. There were significant associations with self-reported periodontal symptoms according to occupation, education and income (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS: The severity of self-reported periodontal symptoms differed according to socioeconomic status. Subjects with lower socioeconomic status reported more advanced periodontal disease symptoms, such as gingival swelling, while those with higher socioeconomic status reported more incipient periodontal symptoms, such as gingival bleeding. Socioeconomic status remains a factor affecting self-reported periodontal symptoms in community-dwelling individuals in Korea.