Expectation of retaining natural teeth for a lifetime and its predictors among Norwegian adults.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the extent to which Norwegian adults expect to retain their natural teeth for life, and to assess the effect of possible predictors of expectancy.


METHODS
Cross-sectional random sample survey.


METHODS
Participants were interviewed in person or by telephone in August/September 1999.


METHODS
A representative nationwide sample aged 15-79 years (n = 1,287). The participation rate was 65%. The results pertain to 1,154 subjects aged 16-79 years with > or = 20 teeth.


METHODS
Expectation of retaining natural teeth for life.


RESULTS
About 42% believed definitely that they would retain their natural teeth for life. The rate was 88% when those who answered 'possibly' were included. Logistic regression analysis showed that gender (OR = 1.9, 95% CL 1.25, 2.87), appearance (OR = 2.8, 95% CL 1.85, 4.29) and chewing ability (OR = 2.4, 95% CL 1.26, 4.46) were significant predictors of the expectancy to retain 20 or more natural teeth for life. Explained variance expressed in terms of Nagelkerke's R2 was 0.093.


CONCLUSIONS
About 40% of Norwegians definitely expected to retain > or = 20 natural teeth for life, 88% believed this to be 'definitely' or 'possibly'. Gender, appearance and chewing ability were significant predictors but their explanatory effect was low.
Haugejorden
Ola
O
Department of Odontology--Community Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Bergen, Norway.
Klock
Kristin Solveig
KS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003729:Dental Care; D003817:Dentition; D004955:Esthetics, Dental; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012737:Sex Factors; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000523:psychology*