Caries and periodontal disease of the elderly in Pomerania, Germany: results of the Study of Health in Pomerania.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to describe the oral health status of older adults living in northeastern Germany.


METHODS
Representative samples of adults aged 60 years or older were examined as part of Study of the Health in Pomerania, a cross-sectional, population-based study. Data on 1446 subjects aged 60-79 years were evaluated for coronal caries using the decayed/missing/filled teeth (DMFT) index, root caries using the root caries index (RCI), calculus, plaque, bleeding on probing, pocket depth and attachment loss.


RESULTS
The prevalence of edentulousness varied from 16% in the 60-65-year-old group to 30% in the 75-79-year-old group, whereas the median number of remaining natural teeth per subject varied from 14 in the youngest age group (60-65 years) to one in the oldest (75-79 years). Among subjects aged 60-69 years, a quarter (26%) of the teeth examined had coronal restoration against 17% in the oldest age group (70-79 years). Coronal caries was found in 2% of the teeth in both age groups. Among teeth with gingival recession, 6% had fillings on root surfaces and 2% had root caries, irrespective of age. In all, 11% of the subjects had at least one untreated coronal lesion and 27% had at least one untreated root caries lesion. Plaque score, calculus score and bleeding on probing were higher in the oldest age group (70-79 years). The prevalence of periodontal disease expressed as the presence of at least one periodontal pocket of 4 mm and more, was higher in men and among the younger subjects (men aged 60-69 years: 85% vs. 71% in 70-79-year-old men; women aged 60-69 years: 71% vs. 62% in 70-79-year-olds). The prevalence of attachment loss of 3 mm or more followed a similar pattern.


CONCLUSIONS
It seems therefore that in this population, the major oral health concern is related to caries and the small number of teeth retained among the dentate subjects.
Mack
Florian
F
Centre of Oral Health, Department of Prosthetic Dentistry and Dental Materials, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany. mack@uni-greifswald.de
Mojon
Philippe
P
Budtz-Jørgensen
Ejvind
E
Kocher
Thomas
T
Splieth
Christian
C
Schwahn
Christian
C
Bernhardt
Olaf
O
Gesch
Dietmar
D
Kordass
Bernd
B
John
Ulrich
U
Biffar
Reiner
R
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D003728:Dental Calculus / Q000453:epidemiology; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000453:epidemiology; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009066:Mouth, Edentulous / Q000453:epidemiology; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000453:epidemiology; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D017213:Root Caries / Q000453:epidemiology; D012737:Sex Factors