title: [State of oral health of adults and the elderly in Hungary].
abstract: The purpose of this survey was to assess the oral health situation of the Hungarian adult and elderly population at the turn of the millennium and to compare the data with the results of previous surveys. A total of 1627 male and female individuals were clinically examined at 17 sample sites according to the WHO basic criteria using the pathfinder methodology. National epidemiological examinations (pathfinder surveys) were carried out in 1985, 1991 and 2000 in adults. But nationwide oral data among 65-74-year-olds were never collected before 2000. It is strongly suggested by World Health Organization to undertake a regular epidemiological survey in 5-year intervals to monitor changes in oral health of the key-age groups. During recent years, in children, a dramatic caries decline has been observed. In adults, however, a similar change has not occurred although other important favourable trends have been documented as well. The basic findings were: The mean DMFT score was high, and strongly influenced by MT. At age 35-44, the caries prevalence was 15.7 DMFT and at 65-74 it was 23.3 DMFT. For non-smokers, the MT mean value was 8.7, and for smokers 10.8. For those who had smoked more than 20 years the MT mean value was 12.7. The periodontal condition of both age groups was poor. Of the adult sample only 4.5% had healthy gingiva and 25.2% had at least 3 healthy sextants. Between 1985 and 2000, the percentage of edentulous adult persons increased from 0.3 to 1.4 and in 2000 the ratio of edentulous persons among elderly was 26%. The population's need for treatment at all levels (restorative, periodontal and prosthetic) was enormous. The authors concluded that in Hungary "health for all" efforts have been inadequate. Greater emphasis on risk- and preventive orientated praxis and management is needed; increased individual activities and financial support are also required.
authors.affiliation: Semmelweis Egyetem, Fogorvostudományi Kar, Budapest.
authors.forename: Judit
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Szoke
authors.forename: Poul Erik
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Petersen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology; D003752:Dental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003753:Dental Health Surveys; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000453:epidemiology; D003778:Dentures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology; D014943:Global Health; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009066:Mouth, Edentulous / Q000453:epidemiology; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009909:Oral Health; D015995:Prevalence; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects