Results of a seniors' oral health survey in rural Alberta.
A questionnaire and oral screening were conducted with seniors in a rural Alberta health authority to determine their oral health needs. Both the dentate and the edentulous had high levels of treatment need. Of the dentate respondents, 41.8 percent had coronal caries, averaging .88 caries per dentate person. All dentate respondents had calculus and/or pocketing as measured by the Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN). Among denture wearers, 64.4 percent were found to have calculus on one or both dentures, and 61.2 percent of lower dentures exhibited poor retention. In assessing their own oral health, 76.4 percent rated themselves somewhere between good and excellent. Among the dentate, 83.6 percent brushed daily; however 57 percent never flossed. Although 40.6 percent had been to a dentist/denturist within the last year, 70.1 percent saw a dentist/denturist only when they experienced pain or problems. Of those who had not been to a dentist/denturist within a year, 83.9 percent said the primary reason was because there was nothing wrong. Although treatment needs in this group were high, lasting change in the oral health status of this group requires more than immediate treatment. Enduring effects can only be facilitated by educating seniors as to what optimal oral health is, appropriate preventive behaviours, and the effective use of available professional services. Unless these issues are addressed there is not likely to be a great deal of improvement within each cohort.
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D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000416:Alberta / Q000453:epidemiology; D016321:Dental Care for Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology; D003741:Dental Deposits / Q000453:epidemiology; D003778:Dentures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010512:Periodontal Index; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires