Does gingivitis lead to periodontitis in young adults?

It has been assumed that poor oral hygiene predisposes to gingivitis with progression to periodontitis and tooth loss. However, a high prevalence of gingivitis occurs in some populations in which severe periodontitis is rare. To assess whether gingivitis is a reliable predictor of periodontitis, we compared the periodontal health of tea pickers and university students aged between 18 and 30 in Indonesia. Oral hygiene and gingival health was significantly better in students than in tea pickers. However, the prevalence and the severity of chronic periodontitis were similar in the two groups. Our findings suggest that gingivitis is a poor predictor of periodontitis in subjects younger than 30 years. Attempts to prevent periodontitis in young adults through antigingivitis measures such as plaque control may be unsuccessful.