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Notes: Background: In this study, risk determinants were determined for periodontal disease in the representative population sample (n=3146) of the Study of Health in Pomerania.Methods: After examining the net random sample (response 69%) and exclusion of edentulous cases and those with missing values, 2595 subjects remained. Using a multivariate, fully adjusted logistic regression, different definitions of “periodontally diseased/healthy” were examined as the dependent variable (extent of attachment loss (AL〈inlineGraphic alt="geqslant R: gt-or-equal, slanted" extraInfo="nonStandardEntity" href="urn:x-wiley:03036979:JCPE629:ges" location="ges.gif"/〉4 mm, combined AL and tooth loss). The independent variables used were sociodemographic factors (age, gender, income, education), medical factors (systemic diseases, drugs), behavioral factors (regular dental checkup, smoking), and oral factors (presence of supragingival calculus and plaque).Results: The following risk determinants were found for AL: male gender, presence of supragingival plaque and calculus, smoking, low educational level. For the combination of AL and tooth loss, risk determinants were female gender, supragingival plaque, smoking, and low educational level. Consumption of antiallergic medications and regular dental checkups proved to be protective. Smoking was the most influential risk determinant. These parameters explained approximately 43–55% of the variation.Conclusion: These results concur with those of the literature. In order to explain disease status further, host-response and microbiological factors must also be examined.

Notes: summary  The literature has documented a controversial discussion on the possible relationship of otogenous symptoms and craniomandibular dysfunction since the 1920s. Therefore, an investigation was conducted which consisted of two parts: a case study with population-based controls and a cross-sectional study. The aim of the first study was to screen a group of patients suffering from acute or chronic tinnitus for temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in comparison with a population-based group of volunteers without tinnitus. To this end, 30 patients (13 females and 17 males, age 18–71 years) suffering from acute hearing loss associated with tinnitus, isolated acute tinnitus, and chronically transient tinnitus were examined for symptoms of craniomandibular dysfunction. The results were compared with those of clinical functional analysis from 1907 subjects selected representatively and according to age distribution from the epidemiological ‘Study of Health in Pomerania’ (SHIP); the occurrence of tinnitus was ruled out in these control subjects. Statistical analysis was performed with Chi-square and Mann–Whitney U-tests. Sixty per cent of the tinnitus patients and 36·5% of the control subjects exhibited more than two symptoms of TMD (P = 0·004). Tinnitus patients had significantly more muscle palpation pain (P 〈 0·001), temporomandibular joint (TMJ) palpation pain (P 〈 0·001), and pain upon mouth opening (P 〈 0·001) than the general population group. No statistical differences were found in TMJ sounds, limitation of mandibular movement, or hypermobility of the TMJ. Furthermore, 4228 subjects of the population group examined in the epidemiological study were screened for co-factors of tinnitus with the help of a multivariate logistic regression model which was adjusted for gender, age, and a variety of anamnestic and examined data. Increased odds ratios (OR) were found for tenderness of the masticatory muscles (OR = 1·6 for one to three painful muscles and OR = 2·53 for four or more painful muscles), TMJ tenderness to dorsal cranial compression (OR = 2·99), listlessness (OR = 2·0) and frequent headache (OR = 1·84) A relationship between tinnitus and TMD was established in both examinations. Tinnitus patients seem to suffer especially from myofascial and TMJ pain. A screening for TMD should be included in the diagnostic survey for tinnitus patients.