Prevalence of Periodontal Disease in South Pacific Island Countries: A Systematic Review.

The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the prevalence of periodontal disease in South Pacific Island countries. A literature search was conducted using Scopus, Medline (via PubMed and Ovid), databases, and Google Scholar. The inclusion criteria for the review were the studies that reported on periodontal disease in the 1- to 85-year age group, excluding data from Australia, New Zealand, and protectorates of the United States and France. The findings from the studies were synthesized, noting the demographics, periodontal disease assessment methods, and main outcomes. The initial search yielded 475 relevant articles. After further screening for eligibility, a total of nine articles were included in this systematic review. In the studies included, the population ranged from 185 to 7966 participants with the age range of 1 to 64 years. The studies were heterogeneous, with each study utilizing different criteria to assess periodontal disease. Notably, the latest study eligible for inclusion was published in 2012. The prevalence of periodontitis ranged from 20% to 100%, with greater prevalence in the age group of 40 years or over. The findings from this review highlighted the need for regular prevalence studies to inform public health policy makers and develop strategies to manage periodontal disease proactively.