Abstract The purpose of the present study was to assess the periodontal status of Pakistani immigrants in Norway, a Third World population in an industrialized country. The findings were related to treatment needs, socio‐demographic variables and cultural beliefs about periodontal health. The mean number of remaining teeth ranged from 27.7 in the 20–24‐year‐old age group to 25.1 in the group of 35‐year‐olds and older. Very few of the study population had no plaque or no subgingival calculus. Only 7.5% of the participants exhibited no bleeding at any index teeth. Age and residence in Pakistan were the strongest predictors of subgingival calculus and pocket depth. Those from the rural areas of Pakistan had deeper pockets than those from the cities. The data showed a population with high prevalences of teeth with plaque, subgingival calculus and frequent gingival bleeding, but few sites with deep pockets. A periodontal treatment need index would indicate a substantial amount of treatment time. The present study suggests that also the perceived periodontal conditions, should be taken into account when periodontal services and health education strategies are planned. The concept of periodontal illness is introduced, defined as a person's perceptions and interpretations of periodontal symptoms. Copyright © 1987, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved

periodontal treatment needs Pakistani immigrants periodontal illness Periodontal status

Pakistan Norway psychological aspect gingiva bleeding Dental Calculus human Periodontal Diseases Gingival Hemorrhage tooth calculus Periodontal Pocket periodontal disease periodontitis Dental Plaque tooth plaque ethnology attitude male female Periodontal Index edentulousness Jaw, Edentulous, Partially periodontics Article adult attitude to health