Application of the community periodontal index of treatment needs (CPITN) in a group of 45-54-year-old German factory workers.

The purpose of the present study was to assess the periodontal status of 45-54-year-old patients and to evaluate their treatment needs. Probing depths, bleeding on probing and retentional elements (calculus and overhanging restorations) were determined according to the community periodontal index of treatment needs (CPITN). Additionally, loss of attachment was measured. Results indicated that none of the subjects had a completely healthy periodontium; only 14.7% presented with single sextants which were healthy or needed only improved oral hygiene. Slightly less than half (46.1%) of the subjects were classified as treatment need (TN) category 2 and the remainder (53.9%) as TN3. Of the subjects classed as TN category 3, 14% had the requisite code 4 in one sextant, 18.2% in 2 sextants, 21.7% in half or more of the sextants and 4.2% in all sextants. With a mean of 5.55 sextants per patient, 0.2 sextants per person were scored as code 0 or 1, 1.33 sextants as code 2, 2.79 sextants as code 3 and 1.24 sextants as code 4. The mean loss of attachment was 3.8 mm. Anterior teeth showed less loss of attachment than posterior teeth and buccal and lingual surfaces showed less loss of attachment than mesial and distal surfaces. The data indicate that although this group of 45-54-year-old subjects had high CPITN scores in total TN categories, the codes for complex Treatment Needs (TN3) were recorded only in localized areas.