From DentistryIQ, a study published by the Journal of Dental Research, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that at 52.79% and 51.10%, respectively, New Mexico and Hawaii have the United States’ highest prevalence of periodontal disease.

The study, titled “Predicting Periodontitis at State and Local Levels in the United States,” also indicates high prevalence among southeastern and southwestern states, including areas along the Mississippi Delta, the US-Mexico border, and among Native American reservations.

The areas estimated to have the greatest concentration of periodontitis directly correlate with regions that also see high incidence of cardiovascular disease and diabetes, systemic conditions often associated with periodontitis. Moreover, the latest findings are in line with early CDC reports that periodontitis disproportionately affects ethnic minorities, tobacco users, those of lower socio-economic status, and those in areas with sparse access to dental care.

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