Oral health status and need of dental treatment in the elderly Danish population

Abstract

Oral health and dental treatment needs were investigated in 560 elderly persons in the county of Vestsjaelland (West Zealand) in Denmark. Of the population aged 65 and above in three typical communities in the county, 10% were selected by random sampling and totaled 633 persons. Of these, 560 persons (88.5%) were interviewed and examined in their homes. The final sample population was representative of the total Danish population in relation to sex and socioeconomic status for this specific age group. Oral health was generally poor. In all, 68.2% of the population were edentulous (64.7 of the males, 70.7% of the females), while the dentate persons had an average of 12 teeth; 3.6% were totally edentulous and lacked dentures in both jaws, a further 5.5% were totally edentulous and lacked a denture in one jaw, and 83.4% had removable dentures. Only 3.4% of the dentate and 28.2% of the edentulous persons did not need any dental treatment. The total percentage of people needing treatment was 80. Prosthetic treatment was the main requirement, applying to 80% of the group. In contrast with this, only 25% of the interviewed subjects had a subjective need for treatment. Information and economic aids for dental treatment are obviously needed in the elderly Danish population.