Gender Dentistry A Systematic Review of Literature on Caries And Periodontitis

Abstract

Already in the 1980s, the World Health Organization (WHO) has postulated to analyze in all medical fields differences between the sexes. But until now there is a disturbing lack of scientifically based and meaningful data over the whole area of gender dentistry – for prevention as well as for treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the actual situation described as an IS-analysis of literature review on the topic of gender dentistry with the subthemes periodontal disease and tooth decay in the leading medical databases (Medline, Embase, BIOSIS Previews, Your Journals@Ovid, The Cochrane Library). We discuss these on the basis of an evidence-based guideline. For periodontal diseases we found no clear trend. Some studies showed no gender difference, others showed a higher prevalence for women or a higher prevalence for men. At the juvenile periodontitis and the occurring bacteria of periodontitis there were conflicting results as well. No simple statement can be made with respect to tooth decay, too. Respective studies merely show age as an important item. Totally it has to be noted that the scientific validity of some studies is not without any doubt as they are conducted with a too low number of clinical trials. Several studies are more than 15 years old, therefor providing a serious gender specific treatment in dentistry, future studies must increasingly incorporate and intensively discuss gender specific aspects.