Periodontal health knowledge and smoking are associated with periodontal treatment need according to tooth brushing levels.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to determine whether periodontal health knowledge is associated with frequency of tooth brushing and periodontal treatment need. METHODS Four hundred and two subjects participated in the study. Data on sociodemographic variables (age, gender, marital status, income, and education), general health, smoking behaviour tooth cleaning habits and knowledge on periodontal health/disease were collected with a questionnaire. Periodontal treatment need was examined using the Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN). According to the CPITN scores, the treatment needs were grouped as minimum (CPITN = 0), low-level (CPITN = 1-2), or high-level (CPITN = 3-4). RESULTS Statistical differences were found between the frequency of tooth brushing and smoking status, marital status, periodontal health knowledge and periodontal treatment needs. Gender (females), place of residence (urban areas), education and periodontal health knowledge had positive relationship with tooth brushing frequency, while smoking and periodontal treatment need had negative relationship. When multivariate logistic regression analysis was applied, age, marriage and poor periodontal knowledge were associated with increased low-level periodontal treatment needs, and age, marriage and smoking were associated with increased high-level periodontal treatment need. CONCLUSION In the limits of this study, we suggest that gender, smoking habits, marital status, place of residence, education and periodontal health knowledge are determining factors related to tooth brushing frequency. Periodontal knowledge and smoking are associated with periodontal treatment needs.