Oral health status in an adult Swedish population. Prevalence of caries. A cross-sectional epidemiological study in the Northern Alvsborg county.
The aim of the present epidemiological study was to describe prevalence, distribution and type of caries in an adult Swedish population. After stratification with respect to age (20-29, 30-39,.....greater than 79 years of age), sex and location of residence (city, village, rural region), a random sample of 967 individuals was drawn (0.75% of the total adult population greater than 19 years). The results were based on radiographic and clinical examination of 919 individuals, of whom 750 were dentate (participation rate: 95%). The examinations were carried out from November 1983 to December 1984. The caries registrations distinguished between enamel caries and root caries, subdivided into manifest and initial caries. Despite lower number of remaining teeth in older ages, the mean number of surfaces with manifest caries (DS) was relatively even in all age groups (4.1-5.1 DS), except for the youngest age group ("20-29 years": mean 3.1 DS). When the number of decayed teeth (DT) were expressed as a percentage of remaining teeth, the ratio (%) was markedly higher in the older age groups than in the younger age groups. Initial caries was more frequent in the younger age groups. In the age groups above forty years the majority of the observed carious lesions involved root surfaces. In the oldest age group ("greater than 79 years of age"), 95% of the lesions were root caries. The mean number of filled surfaces (FS) was higher among women than men, while untreated caries (DS) showed a tendency of higher values for men. No significant differences in caries prevalence related to location of residence could be demonstrated.
Salonen
L
L
Department of Periodontology and Oral Medicine, Northern Alvsborg County Hospital, Vänersborg-Trollhättan, Sweden.
Allander
L
L
Bratthall
D
D
Togelius
J
J
Helldén
L
L
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007576:Jaw, Edentulous, Partially / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health; D011859:Radiography; D011897:Random Allocation; D013548:Sweden; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000473:pathology