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news6 AEEDC Dubai 2015 In a report, researchers of the Global Burden of Diseases, In- juries,andRiskFactorsStudyhave recentlyshedlightontheglobaldi- mensions of severe periodontitis, whichnowaffectsover700million people worldwide. This study is a major effort involving more than 1,000 scientists to systematically produce comparable estimates of the burden of 291 diseases and in- juries and their associated 1,160 sequelae in 1990, 1995, 2005 and 2010. Dental Tribune UK had the opportunity to speak with lead au- thor Prof. Wagner Marcenes from Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry in London about the findings and why they are a cause for concern. Dental Tribune: Prof. Marcenes, the prevalence of severe peri- odontitis on a global scale has not increased significantly in the last two decades, accord- ing to your report. Why are the numbers worrying never- theless? Prof. Wagner Marcenes: Hav- ing more than 700 million people sufferingfromsevereperiodonti- tis is really worrying. Although the proportion remained the same in 1990 and 2010, the num- ber of people needing perio- dontal treatment has increased dramatically. This is because worldwide more than one in ten people suffer from severe peri- odontitis and the world popula- tion grew from 5.3 billion in 1990 to 6.9 billion in 2010. Moreover, severe periodontitis tends to develop during adulthood, show- ing a steep increase between the third and fourth decades of life. With more people living longer and retaining their teeth for life, theriskofdevelopingsevereoral health-relatedproblems,particu- larly periodontitis, will be high. The world’s population is ex- pected to almost double by end of this century, implying that the number of people with severe pe- riodontitis may at least double. How do the results compare to the situation prior to the surveyed period? We have updated the data from the first Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study and gener- ated comparable figures in 1990 and 2010. Therefore, we were able to compare the current and the previous situation to our survey in 2010. Since the study is unique, we do not have global data before the first GBD study. However, we know that oral diseases have decreased signifi- cantly in most industrialised countries,suchastheUKandthe US, in the last five decades. Severe periodontitis appears to be most prevalent in South America and east sub-Saharan Africa. What could be the reasons for that? Our study was not actually designed to test risk factors of periodontal disease, but based on pure reasoning, I would say that, in addition to demographic changes, smoking and poor oral hygiene may be the main factors associated with it. This is specu- lation, but what we see at the moment is a growing number of people smoking in developing regions contrary to the trend in most developed countries. Nearly 80 per cent of the more than one billion smokers world- wide live in low- and middle- income countries. With 1,500 new cases every year, Argentina for example has the highest incidence of severe periodon- titis, which is almost double the global average, and high tobacco consumption. We cannot establish a cause and effect relationship, but I believe that the high incidence of periodon- titis in these areas is most likely related to the habit of smoking. In you report, you mention how difficult it is to determine disease prevalence owing to differentclassificationsystems. Is your representation of the situation therefore a realistic one? I am confident our report provides a realistic, comprehen- sive assessment of the global burden of severe periodontitis. After much consideration, we used a Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs score of 4, a clinical attachment loss of greater than 6 millimetres or a pocket depth of more than 5 millimetres as indicators of pe- riodontitis. We used the meas- urements adopted by the World Health Organization, which are considered by most as the most “It is unacceptable to neglect severe oral diseases” An interview with Barts andThe London School of Medicine and Dentistry ProfessorWagner Marcenes,London. PRINT DIGITAL EDUCATION EVENTS The DTI publishing group is composed of the world’s leading dental trade publishers that reach more than 650,000 dentists in more than 90 countries. VISIT US AT BOOTH 4G 01B AD Aerial view of Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina. The South American country has the highest incidence o Prof. Wagner Marcenes

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