title: Variation in subjective oral health indicators of 65-year-olds in Norway and Sweden.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Guided by the conceptual framework of Gilbert and co-workers, this study assesses satisfaction with oral health as reported by 65-year-olds in Sweden and Norway, the relationship of socio-demographic factors, clinical and subjective oral health indicators with satisfaction of oral health, and the consistency of those relationships across countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2007, standardized questionnaires were mailed to all the residents in two counties in Sweden and three in Norway who were born in 1942. Response rates were 73.1% (n=6078) in Sweden and 56.0% (n=4062) in Norway.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Totals of 76.8% of the Swedish and 76.5% of the Norwegian participants reported satisfaction with oral health. Corresponding figures for toothache were 48.1% (Sweden) versus 51.5% (Norway), and for temporomandibular joint symptoms, 10.9% (Sweden) versus 15.1% (Norway). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that subjects who perceived they had bad health, smoked daily, had missing teeth, experienced toothache, had problems with chewing, bad breath, and oral impacts were less likely than their counterparts in the opposite groups to be satisfied with their oral health status. The corresponding odds ratios (ORs) ranged from 0.08 (problems chewing) to 0.2 (oral impact). No statistically significant two-way interactions occurred and the model explained 46% of the variance in satisfaction with oral health across the two countries (45% in Sweden and 47% in Norway).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The oral condition of 65-year-olds in Norway and Sweden produced impacts in oral symptoms, functional limitations, and problems with daily activities that varied to some extent. Satisfaction with oral health varied by socio-demographic factors and subjective oral health indicators. A full understanding of the oral health and treatment needs of 65-year-olds cannot be captured by clinical measures alone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, Örebro County Council, Örebro, Sweden. gunnar.ekback@orebroll.se
authors.forename: Gunnar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ekbäck
authors.forename: Anne Nordrehaug
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Astrøm
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Klock
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ordell
authors.forename: Lennart
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Unell
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003817:Dentition; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006209:Halitosis / Q000523:psychology; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology; D009664:Norway; D009909:Oral Health; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013548:Sweden; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D014030:Tobacco, Smokeless; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000523:psychology; D014098:Toothache / Q000523:psychology; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000523:psychology; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000523:psychology