Dental caries in persons over the age of 80 living in Kungsholmen, Sweden: findings from the KEOHS project.
OBJECTIVE
The Kungsholmen Elders Oral Health Study (KEOHS) evaluated the oral health status of generally healthy, community-dwelling persons over the age of 80 living in Kungsholmen, an area in central Stockholm. This paper reports findings regarding the prevalence and severity of dental caries among the dentate participants.


METHODS
Caries examinations were conducted on eligible persons participating in the Kungsholmen Project, an ongoing, longitudinal study of older adults.


METHODS
Caries examinations were carried out between 1994 and 1996 at two local clinics by three standardised examiners using defined visual, tactile criteria.


METHODS
Among 296 potentially eligible participants, 159 were examined, and a total of 129 had at least one tooth.


METHODS
The caries examination identified decayed and filled surfaces and missing teeth.


RESULTS
Of the dentate subjects examined, 80% had teeth in both arches; 98% had at least one coronal filling; 81% had one or more restored root surfaces. Depending upon age and gender, between 36% and 56% of those examined had untreated coronal caries, and between 54% and 75% had untreated root caries.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings document the substantial and ongoing impact of dental caries in a sample of generally healthy, community-dwelling older adults and underscore the importance of continued caries prevention and treatment in the aged.
Morse
Douglas E
DE
New York University College of Dentistry, Department of Epidemiology & Health Promotion, New York 10010, USA. dem5@nyu.edu
Holm-Pedersen
Poul
P
Holm-Pedersen
Jytte
J
Katz
Ralph V
RV
Viitanen
Matti
M
von Strauss
Eva
E
Winblad
Bengt
B
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007576:Jaw, Edentulous, Partially / Q000453:epidemiology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D017213:Root Caries / Q000453:epidemiology; D012737:Sex Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000453:epidemiology