title: Factors associated with edentulousness in an elderly population in Valencia (Spain).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of edentulism and its association with various socioeconomic factors and oral health habits in the population aged 65-74 years old in the region of Valencia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross sectional study was designed. Thirty-four primary health centers and five nursing homes were chosen at random in the region of Valencia (10-15 voluntary participants per sampling point). Clinical examinations were carried out by three calibrated dentists (kappa>0.85) in the same centers. The total sample consisted of 531 individuals (235 men and 296 women).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percentage of toothlessness was 20.7% and the mean number of natural teeth present was 14.92. The prevalence of edentulism was significantly higher (p <0.05) in men, institutionalized persons, those with no schooling, those with poor oral hygiene, those who visited the dentist regularly and those living in peri-urban/rural areas. In a multivariate logistic regression model with edentulism as the dependent variable, the following factors were identified as significant independent variables: institutionalization (odds ratio [OR]=2.88), poor oral hygiene (OR=2.35), regular visits to the dentist (OR=2.34) and age (OR=1.19).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Edentulousness is a complex phenomenon that involves distinct social and economic factors.
authors.affiliation: Stomatology Department, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain. m.vicenta.eustaquio@uv.es
authors.forename: María Vicenta
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Eustaquio-Raga
authors.forename: José María
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Montiel-Company
authors.forename: José Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Almerich-Silla
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007326:Institutionalization; D008297:Male; D009066:Mouth, Edentulous / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology