Table 2

Odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) of the statistically significant explanatory factors after backward elimination for the prevalence of periodontal micro-organisms analyzed by stepwise logistic regression.

Bacterium#

Explanatory factor§

OR

95% CI

Significance

Baseline

P.g.

Periodontal pockets

3.73

1.74-8.00

p = 0.001

P.i.

Periodontal pockets

2.77

1.57-4.91

p < 0.001

P.n.

Poor oral health

0.40

0.19-0.82

p = 0.012

T.f.

Periodontal pockets

4.44

2.44-8.07

p < 0.001

T.d.

Periodontal pockets

2.26

1.28-3.97

p = 0.005

2 year-Follow-up

A.a.

HRT§§

0.21

0.48-0.93

p = 0.040

Cardiovascular

medication§§§

5.48

1.04-28.77

p = 0.044

P.g.

Periodontal pockets

3.04

1.11-8.34

p = 0.031

P.i.

Periodontal pockets

1.98

1.09-3.59

p = 0.025

P.n.

Number of teeth

1.08

1.00-1.16

p = 0.045

T.d.

Periodontal pockets

2.95

1.06-8.19

p = 0.038

#A.a. = Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans; P.g. = Porphyromonas gingivalis;

P.i. = Prevotella intermedia; P.n. = Prevotella nigrescens; T.f. = Tannerella forsythia; T.d. = Treponema denticola.

§Periodontal pockets: >4 mm deep pockets; Poor oral health = self-assessed poor oral health;

§§HRT = hormone replacement therapy

§§§Includes diuretics, antihypertensive agents, nitrates, digitalis and antiarrhythmic agents

Tarkkila et al. BMC Oral Health 2010 10:10   doi:10.1186/1472-6831-10-10