Objectives: to determine the periodontal status, inclusive periodontitis in a sample of policeman of Campeche City, Mexico. Methods: a cross-sectional study was carried out. Using a no-random sampling were selected men (n=150) and a questionnaire was applied for exploring sociodemographic and socioeconomic variables. Subjects were examined clinically by an examiner, evaluating periodontal status and dental plaque. Probing pocket depth was measured using a Florida-ProbeTM. The periodontitis prevalence was determined as proportion of subjects with at least one site with probing pocket depth >4 mm. A bivariate analysis was made using non-parametric test, odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals were also calculate. Results: we observed a sample very homogeneous in relation to education level, socioeconomics status and lifestyles. 21,948 sites were availably for analysis. The mean age was 38.06±10.92 (limits 21-78). The mean of tooth and sites examined by persons was 24.38±4.73 and 146.32±28.38, respectively. The periodontitis prevalence was 78%. 47.3, 23.3 and 84.7% presented calculus, suppuration, and probing blood flow, respectively. The unfavorable periodontal status of these policemen increased with age (p<0.05). In subjects with at least 15 sites with dental plaque the risk of periodontitis increased 2.61 times (p<0.05). The presence of dental plaque in proximal, lingual and vestibular sites increased the possibility of periodontitis 2.91, 2.31 and 2.99 times, respectively (p<0.05). Conclusions: majority of the subjects presented an oral health status unfavorable, observed high periodontitis prevalence in this population. Preventive programmes targeting periodontal disease in this population should focus on oral health education and simple oral hygiene instructions while the ubiquitous calculus could be dealt with oral prophylaxis. The authors suggest that use of objective electronic tools should be evaluated in epidemiological studies.

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