A sample of 1567 persons aged 55 to 79 were examined in 1960 to 1962 from the total possible US aged population of 13,917,000, 4746 persons aged 55 to 74 were examined in 1971 to 1974 from the total population of 31,822,575. Standard dental examination followed a written set of objective standards. Most exams were completed in 10 mins, no x-rays, calculus and debris were not removed. Russell's Periodontal Index (PI) was used. Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S)was used.
In the 1567-aged (1960-1962), 919 were dentulous and were evaluated for periodontal disease.The trend in mean PI for the two age categories shown here suggest an increasing problem with periodontal disease over this 12 year period in the oldest age group, 65 to 74. There was a significant decline observed in the proportion with gingivitis between 1960 to 1962 and 1971 to 1974 for each sex and age category as well as the rise in the proportion without periodontal disease for each category (figure 1 and 2). Although these were not significantly different, the % of edentulous adults decreased for each sex, for each age group and all races. The mean number of missing teeth per dentulous person decline significantly between the 1960 to 1962 survey and the 1971 to 1974 survey for white men and women of both age categories and for all races combined. The age 55-64 yrs, the mean PI scores remained unchanged between the 1960 to 1962 and 1971 to 1974 national surveys while for those aged 65 to 74 yrs the scores rose slightly. In contrast, the proportion of persons aged 55 to 74 with no evidence of disease increased significantly due to the substantial decrease in the proportion of persons with gingivitis. The proportion of persons with pocketing remained unchanged or increased in the older adults. During the same time period, the proportion of edentulous adults declined and, among dentulous adults, the reduction in mean number of missing teeth was significant.
Projections for the year 2000. The more likely occurrence may be a slight increase in the proportion with periodontal pocketing by 2000 as observed between the two surveys which would result in nearly 4 million more elderly adults with pocketing. If the more probable event is assumed to be a slight increase in the proportion with pocketing based on the same age-specific changes noted between 1960 to 1962 and 1971 o 1974, it may be more likely than 5.6 million people will be affected which is a 64.3% increase in the prevalence of pocketing.
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