title: The oral health of ageing baby boomers: a comparison of adults aged 45-64 and those 65 years and older.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the oral health status of adults aged 45-64 (baby boomers) and those aged 65 and older.
  
  
  METHODS
  An observational, cross-sectional survey of adults living independently in rural and urban settings in Nova Scotia, Canada was conducted. Using random digit dialing, calibrated interviewers completed a telephone survey, and clinicians calibrated to WHO standards conducted clinical examinations. Weighting was used to correct for sampling bias.
  
  
  RESULTS
  747 community dwelling adults completed both the clinical exam and the questionnaire (n=411, age 45-64; n=336, age 65 or older). Rates of edentulism were low (2.6% aged 45-64; 15.7% aged 65+; p<0.001). Untreated root caries was greater in the older dentate group (19.7 vs. 10.1%; p<0.001). Being 65 years of age or older was identified as a predictor of increased decayed, missing, filled teeth, presence of decayed and/or filled roots and presence of attachment loss≥4 mm, but was not a significant predictor of presence of untreated coronal caries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A falling rate of edentulism and a higher risk for root caries with increasing age may predict the need for more complex dental care as our population ages.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
authors.forename: Mary E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: McNally
authors.forename: Debora C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.forename: Joanne B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Clovis
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brillant
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Filiaggi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003807:Dentin Sensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology; D004522:Educational Status; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007347:Insurance, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009066:Mouth, Edentulous / Q000453:epidemiology; D009674:Nova Scotia / Q000453:epidemiology; D009909:Oral Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000453:epidemiology; D011157:Population Dynamics; D017213:Root Caries / Q000453:epidemiology; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000453:epidemiology