Introduction: At present, older people are a priority group of World Health Organization (WHO) activities in the field of oral health. In Poland, the age group from 65 to 74 years was first included in epidemiological studies of the dental situation in 1998. Loss of teeth affects oral health, quality of life, and possibly the general health of older people. Objectives: To determine the prevalence and factors associated with tooth loss and edentulism among older people in West Pomerania, NW Poland. Material and methods: The study included volunteers from a group of 2500 people selected by the Ministry of the Interior and Administration. Information on selected sociodemographic characteristics was obtained based on interviews. Clinical examination provided information on the average number of missing teeth and the number and type of preserved teeth. Results: The mean number of missing teeth (with SD) in the examined population was 13.1 (8.3). First molars were the most frequently missing teeth in both the maxilla (65.8%) and mandible (81.3%). There were statistically significant differences in the average number of missing teeth in relation to age, place of residence, level of education, monthly income and source of financing dental treatment. There were three significant risk factors for edentulism: relying solely on the state-funded dental services, OR = 5.18 (2.49-10.80), low level of education, OR = 3.88 (1.82-8.28), and age, OR = 1.15 (1.02-1.29). Conclusions: The percentage of completely edentate older adults in West Pomerania, NW Poland remains at a high level. The average number of missing teeth and the percentage of completely edentate older adults depend on economic status and educational level. The proportion of older adults with at least 20 preserved teeth is very low, and therefore the need for prosthetic treatment and masticatory rehabilitation is probably high.

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Introduction: According to demographic predictions, the number of people aged 65 years and more on a global scale will reach one billion in 2030. Understanding the epidemiology of prosthetic status and need for prosthetic treatment of tooth loss in the elderly population is essential to determine risk factors for tooth loss, prepare comprehensive dental treatment, and to develop appropriate prevention programmes. The purpose of this study was to compare the prosthetic status and prosthetic treatment in edentulous patients depending on the source of financing of dental treatment. Materials and methods:The study was conducted in a group of 294 people (163 women and 131 men) aged 65-74 years living in West Pomerania province in Poland. The clinical examination assessed the number of preserved teeth, the average number of DMF and its components, the number of preserved short-circuit supporting areas using a modified classification of missing teeth by Eichner, the status of prosthetic treatment, and the need for prosthetic treatment according to World Health Organization (Geneva, 1997). Findings were compared with the source of financing of dental treatment. Results:The study found that among respondents using only dental services under the National Health Fund compared to those who use only the services of private dental offices there was: a higher percentage of edentulous people (27.4% vs. 2.06%), a lower percentage of people with preserved functional dentition (15.07% vs. 49.48%), a higher mean number of teeth removed (18.14 vs. 9.73), a higher percentage of people who do not have support zones (45.21% vs. 10.31%), a lower percentage of people using a complement fixed in the jaw (5.48% vs. 29.9%) and in the mandible (1.37% vs. 17.53%), a higher percentage of people using a full prosthesis in the jaw (34.25% vs. 4.12%) and in the mandible (23.29% vs. 3.09%), a lower percentage of people using a partial denture and prosthetic bridge or bridges in the jaw (1.37% vs. 10.31%) and in the mandible (0.00% vs. 4.12%), and a higher percentage of people who required a dental prosthesis fixed in the jaw (23.29% vs. 2.06%) and in the mandible (20.55% vs. 3.09%). Conclusion:The study revealed a significantly lower oral health status among respondents using only services within the National Health Fund. Keywords: dentition; old age; epidemiology; edentulousness; dental prosthetics. ABSTRAKT Wstęp: Według prognoz demograficznych liczba osób w wieku 65 lat i powyżej w skali globalnej osiągnie w 2030 r. miliard. Wiedza na temat epidemiologii statusu protetycznego i potrzeb leczenia protetycznego w populacji osób starszych jest niezbędna do ustalenia czynników ryzyka utraty zębów, a także przygotowania kompleksowego leczenia stomatologicznego oraz stworzenia odpowiednich programów profilaktycznych dla tej grupy badanych. Celem pracy było porównanie statusu protetycznego i potrzeb leczenia protetycznego braków zębowych u osób starszych w zależności od źródła finansowania ich leczenia stomatologicznego. Materiały i metody: Bad...

Introduction: Assessment of dental health attitudes among older people in the region of West Pomerania, Poland, and a comparison with their dental status shown by the decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index. Material and methods: The study involved 294 people aged 65-74 years living in West Pomerania, NW Poland. The study was conducted in the city of Szczecin and the towns of Łobez and Police in 2014-2015. Interviews with the participants provided information on their health attitudes. Clinical examinations evaluated their dentition to produce a DMFT index. Results: The largest group of respondents (106 people, 36%) visited the dentist once a year. Only 50.3% (n = 148) visited the dentist because of a follow-up. As many as 3.7% of patients used a toothbrush less than once a day or not at all, while 6.8% replaced their toothbrush less than once a year or not at all. Only 20.4% of the respondents cleaned their interdental spaces. The mean number of missing teeth, and the DMFT index were higher among older adults with the lowest level of health attitudes. Conclusions: The examined older adults in West Pomerania showed inadequate dental health attitudes. Only a fraction reported a habit of cleaning interdental spaces. In general, health attitudes had a significant impact on the dental health of the examined older adults. This paper shows the need for systematic, standardised, and reproducible epidemiological studies in older adults.