Racial Differences Effects on Oral Health and Periodontal Diseases Extent, Staging and Grading among the Multi-Ethnic Expatriates in Aseer Region, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: Given the increase in the numbers of expatriates in Saudi Arabia and the shortage of information about expatriates’ oral health and periodontal disease severity and progression. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the racial differences on oral health and periodontal disease extent, staging, and grading among the multi-ethnic expatriates in the Aseer region, Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 300 expatriates in Aseer region, Saudi Arabia. They were divided into three equal racial different groups (n = 100), Arabs (AR), Asians (AS), and Africans (AF). The interviews of all participants were completed then the clinical examinations of periodontal diseases extent, staging, and grading parameters were performed. Statistical analysis was done by ANOVA test, Tukey’s test, and Chi-square test. The statistical significance level was determined at p < 0.05. Results: There were statistically significant differences in the comparison between the three ethnic/racial groups in clinical parameters except in GBI, PCR, FI, TFO, and BC, where there were no statistically significant differences in the comparison between the three ethnic/racial groups. There were differences associated with age, gender, smoking, and diabetes, without statistically significant differences among the three racial groups. Conclusion: We concluded that most participants in this study had a generalized severe grade 4 plaque-induced gingivitis and localized periodontitis stage III grade B.