The oral health of ageing baby boomers: a comparison of adults aged 45-64 and those 65 years and older.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

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: Mary E McNally, Debora C Matthews, Joanne B Clovis, Martha Brillant, Mark J Filiaggi
• Journal: Gerodontology (Gerodontology) Vol. 31 Issue 2 Pg. 123-35 (Jun 2014) ISSN: 1741-2358 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 23216625 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Observational Study, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2012 The Gerodontology Society and John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Topics

• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Aging (physiology)
• Attitude to Health
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• DMF Index
• Dental Care (statistics & numerical data)
• Dental Restoration, Permanent (statistics & numerical data)
• Dentin Sensitivity (epidemiology)
• Educational Status
• Employment (statistics & numerical data)
• Female
• Health Status
• Humans
• Independent Living (statistics & numerical data)
• Insurance, Dental (statistics & numerical data)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Mouth, Edentulous (epidemiology)
• Nova Scotia (epidemiology)
• Oral Health (statistics & numerical data)
• Oral Hygiene (statistics & numerical data)
• Periodontal Attachment Loss (epidemiology)
• Population Dynamics
• Root Caries (epidemiology)
• Rural Health (statistics & numerical data)
• Urban Health (statistics & numerical data)
• Xerostomia (epidemiology)