Coronal caries and restorations in an elderly population in Germany.
In an epidemiologic study, the dental health status of elderly persons in Germany was investigated. A total of 458 persons aged 60 yr and over participated in the study, with 89 persons being residents of old-people's homes. With a mean DMFS score of 87.3, the mean number of manifest caries was low (1.2) and the standard of conservative and prosthetic care high. Of a mean number of 17.75 filled surfaces, 59.6% were surfaces with crowns. Dental health is a social problem. The mean number of caries cavities was 10 times higher in institutionalized elderly persons of low social class than in non-institutionalized persons of the same age. Finally, initiatives to improve oral and dental hygiene in all age groups examined in this study are urgently required.
Strübig
W
W
Department of Operative Dentistry/Preventive Dentistry, School of Dental Medicine, University of Hamburg, Germany.
Depping
M
M
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004245:DMF Index; D016321:Dental Care for Aged; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012923:Social Class