Changes in conditions related to reported oral and general health over a ten‐year period as reflected in two cohorts of 75‐year‐old subjects examined in 2007 and 2017

Abstract

Background The rapidly ageing and increasingly dentate population puts great demands on society regarding the provision of adequate medical and dental care facilities. Objectives To present changes in reported demographic, general and oral health factors in two cohorts of 75 year olds in 2007 and 2017, and to analyse factors associated with self‐reported number of remaining teeth and chewing efficiency. Material and methods All 75‐year‐old people living in two Swedish counties received a questionnaire in 2007 and in 2017. The response rates in 2007 and in 2017 were 71.9% (n = 3735) and 70.7% (n = 5091), respectively. Reported number of teeth was clinically validated in a selected subgroup. Results The 2017 cohort reported significantly better general health and dental state. Edentulousness was 7.8% in 2007 and 2.3% in 2017, while ‘very good’ chewing efficiency was 55.2% and 60.5%, respectively. Born outside Sweden, single living, not feeling healthy and smoking predicted reduced number of teeth in both cohorts. Impaired chewing efficiency in both cohorts was predicted by being born outside Sweden, lower education, not feeling healthy, reduced number of teeth and denture wearing. Conclusions Seventy‐five‐year‐old people in Sweden reported much better oral and general health in 2017 compared to 2007. In 2017, 75% had practically all natural teeth present and only 2% were edentulous. This development of an increasingly dentate and partially dentate ageing population will put high demands on the oral healthcare system and will need adapting undergraduate/postgraduate education and management strategies to meet the requirements of the elderly.

Satisfaction with dental appearance in two cohorts of 75‐year‐olds examined in 2007 and 2017: A repeated cross‐sectional study

“…In the adjusted logistic regression, the highest OR (6.94) for predicting ‘very satisfied’ with dental appearance was good chewing function, which was not surprising as this might indirectly be associated with a larger number of remaining teeth and better nutritional status, amongst others. Only a few people had complete dentures in both jaws (7% and 2% in the 1932 and 1942 cohorts, respectively), 13 but it was still a strong predictor (OR 3.54) for being satisfied with dental appearance. Notwithstanding the other known negative sequelae of complete denture use, such individuals may generally be happier with the aesthetics of their prostheses than those with natural teeth as reported in previous studies 32,33 .…”

“…In contrast, children born in 1942, were all enrolled in the Swedish public health system that had started in 1938 offering free dental care to all children in the country. It may reasonably be said, therefore, that those born in 1942 might not have had the same negative experience, both personally and by observing those around them, of impaired oral health resulting in compromised dental appearance as all or most natural teeth would have been retained, and edentulism would have been relatively uncommon 13 …”

“…Although there were no major temporal changes when comparing the two cohorts born 10 years apart with reference to the global dental appearance as all or most natural teeth would have been retained, and edentulism would have been relatively uncommon. 13 In the regression analysis the dependent variable was dichotomised into 'very satisfied' versus the three remaining categories.…”

“…For example, in Sweden 75% of 75‐year‐olds reported a more or less complete dentition in 2017 compared with only 55.9% in 2007. Along with this, edentulism decreased from 7.8% in 2007 to 2.3% in 2017 13 . This trend of older people retaining their natural teeth into older age may have implications for how they themselves assess their dental appearance.…”

“…Along with this, edentulism decreased from 7.8% in 2007 to 2.3% in 2017. 13 This trend of older people retaining their natural teeth into older age may have implications for how they themselves assess their dental appearance.…”