Douglass, C., Fox, C.H., Tennstedt, S.L., Joshi, A., Feldman, H.A., Mcguire, S.M., Mckinlay, J.B. Oral Health Status of the Elderly in New England. J. Gerohtol. 48(2): M39-46, 1993

Purpose

Methods and materials

• Study population consisted of communitydwelling elders 70y/o and older.
• A total of 68communities were selected.
• First stage of sampling consisted of telephone interviews to asses elegibility and to collect data regarding socioeconomic status, oral and physical health. Total sample was 2,057.
• Second stage consisted of individuals from the 68 sampled cities selected from the medicare list.
• Examinations were conducted at respondents homes, including # of teeth decayed, missing, filled, full periodontal exam and assesment of oral lesions. Life style behaviors were asked.
• 1,151 completed the second stage.

Results

• Sample was predominantly white (94.4%) and females (57%).
• 37.6% were edentulous, 16.1% dentated in 1arch, and 46.3% in both arches.
• Older subjects had higher prevalence of edentulism.
• For persons with teeth in both arches the oldest individuals had fewer teeth than the younger.
• For persons with teeth in one arch oldest had the same # of teeth than the youngest-old basically lower anterior.

Dental caries

• Untreated coronal decay prevalence was 28% in the females and 34% in the males..
• Untreated root caries was 19% females and 26% in the males.
• No age differences for coronal caries but there was a difference for root caries, oldest having more root caries than the youngest old.
• More than 90% had coronal fillings. The % for root fillings was higher in the 80-84 group when compared to the younger ones.

Periodontal disease

• Gingival bleedineg and calculus were highly prevalent (85% gingival bleeding). a. Calculus formation was in 93% of the males and in 86% of the females.
• 66% shwed moderate periodontal pockets and 21% severe periodontal pockets. Moderate disease was slightly more predominant in females and severe disease in males.
• 39% had experienced moderate loss of attachment and 56% had severe loss of attachment on anaverage of 2.7 teeth.
• Differences in gender were significant: a. 44% of the females and 36% of the males exhibited moderate loss of attachment. b. 51% of the females and 63% of the males showed severe attachment loss.

Conclusions

• NEEDS shows much greater tooth retention among elders today compared to 30 years ago, significant amounts of advanced periodontal disease, and root caries that increases with age and gingival recession.
• Comparisons with the 1985-86 survey suggest that periodontal disease is substantially underestimated by previous studies.

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