title: Radiological signs indicating infection of dental origin in elderly Finns.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to assess the prevalence and background factors of signs of infection of dental origin in elderly Finns.
  
  
  METHODS
  Every third birth cohort between 60-78 years of age (n = 1733) in a southern and a northern region in Finland were invited. Altogether, 1069 subjects attended radiographic examination. Of those, 660 were dentate and formed the study sample. In the analysis an index as a sum of points (scale per lesion 0-3, range 0-420) indicating the severity of infection from periapical lesions, furcal lesions, vertical bone pockets, horizontal bone loss and severe dental caries was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The index ranged individually from 0-91. Horizontal bone loss was found in 94%, vertical bone loss in 19%, periapical lesions in 46%, furcal lesions in 19% and carious lesions in 39% of the subjects. Only 3% of the subjects were free of dental infections, while 2% had mild, 17% moderate and 78% severe risk of dentogenic infection. Statistically significant background factors were region, level of education, number of regular drugs in use, drugs reducing salivation, alcohol consumption, cardiovascular disease, asthma and rheumatoid arthritis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elderly Finns have high a prevalence of signs of infections of dental origin, which is associated with several socio-demographic and health-related factors.
authors: Institute of Dentistry, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland. britta.haikola@fimnet.fi
authors: Britta
authors: B
authors: Haikola
authors: Sisko
authors: S
authors: Huumonen
authors: Kirsi
authors: K
authors: Sipilä
authors: Kyösti
authors: K
authors: Oikarinen
authors: Taina
authors: T
authors: Remes-Lyly
authors: Anna-Lisa
authors: AL
authors: Söderholm
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D014076:Tooth Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*