[Einfluss von Gender auf Parodontitis: Prävention, Prävalenz und Ätiologie in einer narrativen Übersicht]

Periodontitis leads to a destruction of the tooth-supporting apparatus, which untreated may end up in tooth-loss. Key factor in the pathogenesis of periodontitis is the host immune response, genetic predisposition, and lifestyle factors (such as smoking, stress, and diabetes), all of which influence disease severity. Periodontitis is more common in men than women, this fact may point out that gender may have an influence on periodontitis. In addition, the incidence and severity seem to have a gender predilection with the incidence and severity of periodontal disease appearing to be greater in males than in females. The purpose of this narrative review was to summarize the existing literature on influence of gender in periodontology. The review included German and English articles and aimed to identify any gender differences in periodontitis. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines gender as the socially constructed characteristics, norms, behaviors and roles associated with being a woman, man, girl or boy, and the relationships between them. The topic of "gender" is not a new topic in dentistry. However, existing studies are relatively limited and further research is needed to improve our understanding of this topic. In fact, understanding gender and gender differences in oral health may be valuable for improving the effectiveness of preventive and therapeutic interventions. By recognizing and addressing these differences, healthcare professionals can tailor their approaches to better address the specific needs and challenges of individuals of different genders. This can help improve overall oral health outcomes.