Schuch HS, et al. - Researchers assessed the controlled direct effect (CDE) of early life socioeconomic position (SEP) on periodontitis at 31 years, by using data from the 1982 Pelotas Birth Cohort Study, Brazil. This was evaluated controlling for adulthood income and education, smoking, and dental hygiene and including sex as a covariate. At birth, early life SEP was measured in participants according to income, health services payment mode, maternal education, height, and skin color (lower vs middle/higher SEP). Via clinical examination, evaluation of periodontitis was done at age 31 (healthy, mild or moderate-to-severe disease). A higher risk of moderate-to-severe periodontitis was observed in relation to the lowest early life SEP, after controlling for mediators and exposure-induced mediator-outcome confounders. An impact of early life SEP on periodontitis in adulthood was reported, which was not mediated by adulthood SEP and behaviors.