title: Prosthodontic status among old adults in Pomerania, related to income, education level, and general health (results of the Study of Health in Pomerania, SHIP).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to evaluate associations among prosthetic status, socioeconomic factors, and general health of subjects aged 55 to 79 years. The data were taken from the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Socioeconomic information (age, sex, education level), medical information (number of diseases), and details on smoking and alcohol consumption were obtained. Prosthetic status in the maxilla and mandible was classified into complete denture (CD), removable partial denture (RPD), > or = 10 natural teeth or teeth replaced with fixed prosthodontics (10T+), and < or = nine natural teeth including fixed prosthodontics (9T-).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The data of 1,877 subjects were evaluated. CDs in the maxilla were more frequent than in the mandible. RPDs were more frequent in the mandible and in the group aged 65 to 74 years. Of the individuals with a low education level, 47% had a CD in the maxilla, and only 21% had 10T+. However, of subjects with a high education level, 22% had a CD in the maxilla, and 54% had 10T+. The odds ratio of having a CD in the maxilla increased to 11.9 at the age of 75 to 79 years, compared to 0.6 at the age of 55 to 59 years. Logistic regression analyses showed that the risk of wearing a CD was significantly associated with old age, low education level, low income, smoking, and alcohol abuse, whereas the number of diseases (used as an indicator of general health) was not.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Alcohol abuse, smoking, low education level, low income, and old age were significant predictors of wearing CDs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics and Dental Materials, Center of Oral Health, University of Greifswald, Germany. mack@uni-greifswald.de
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mack
authors.forename: Torsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mundt
authors.forename: Ejvind
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Budtz-Jørgensen
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mojon
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schwahn
authors.forename: Olaf
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bernhardt
authors.forename: Dietmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gesch
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: John
authors.forename: Reiner
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Biffar
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D003824:Denture, Complete / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003830:Denture, Partial, Fixed / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003832:Denture, Partial, Removable / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking