Dental radiographic findings in the elderly in Helsinki, Finland

Abstract

A total of 169 dentate persons, aged 76, 81, and 86 years, living at home in Helsinki, Finland, were examined by means of panoramic radiography supplemented by intraoral radiographs. The older the age group, the fewer teeth remained. Altogether 75% of the subjects had radiographically detectable caries. A high proportion of the carious teeth (62%) was found in a relatively small number (24%) of subjects. The number of carious teeth and their percentage of the total number of teeth were greater in the older age groups. The proportion of endodontically treated teeth was 19% in the 76-year-olds and 26% in the 86-year-olds. Of the subjects 41% had periapical periodontitis, which was commoner in root-filled teeth (18%) than in other teeth (4%). Caries and periapical radiolucent and radiopaque findings were commoner in men. Vertical bone pockets (3 mm or deeper) were found in 51% and furcation lesions in 28% of the subjects. Compared with earlier Finnish studies, the results indicate an improving oral health status among elderly Finns.

Jaws and Dental Panoramic Radiographic Findings in the Elderly in Kerman, Iran

“…Studies by Sumer, Masood, Soikkonen and Jindal focused on edentulous elderly subjects [17,[19][20][21], which resulted in the exclusion of items such as dental caries, calculus and furcal involvement from their studies; however, studies such as that by Ainamo, similar to the present study, focused on the elderly, both dentate and edentulous [16]. …”

“…Other items related to periodontal diseases had significant prevalence rates in the present study and furcal involvement (27%), osseous pockets (60.7%) and calculus (31.1%) were other prevalent entities. Ainamo reported prevalence rates of 51% and 28% for osseous pockets and furcal involvement, respectively, which are similar to those in the present study [16,18]. It appears it is difficult to compare the results of different studies and to accurately evaluate the factors affecting such resorption, considering the multiplicity of factors that affect it, including systemic predispositions such as diabetes and also use of tobacco [30].…”

“…The exposure conditions for all the radiographic techniques consisted of kVp=63-81 mA=10 and s=17. The radiographs were visualized on a 19-inch Flatron LG W1952SE monitor with adjustable magnification up to 100% and the possibility to adjust light [15,16]. Scanora A.3.1 software program was used to this end.…”

“…Scanora A.3.1 software program was used to this end. All the eligible radiographs were visualized by an experienced oral and maxillofacial radiologist and the following radiographic findings were recorded [15][16][17][18][19]: the number of natural teeth in both arches except for wisdom teeth, the number of residual roots, the number of impacted teeth, presence of fixed prostheses (bridges) and implants, the number of endodontically treated teeth, presence of boney pockets, involvement of the furcal area, presence of calculus, the number of teeth with visible carious lesions, radiolucent lesions involving and not involving bone, radiopaque lesions, findings in relation to the condyle of the TMJ, and resorption of the alveolar bone (localized resorption of bone secondary to etiologic agents such as overhanging restorations).…”

Oral status and prosthetic factors related to residual ridge resorption in elderly subjects

“…The patients with natural lower 76-, 81-, and 86-year-olds, which had been performed teeth only in the anterior region have had a greater reduction in the anterior alveolar ridge of the during the years 1990-91 part o f the longitudinal Helsinki Aging Study (HAS) (24). The study populat edentulous maxilla than the patients with a lower consisted of 185 elderly people (46 men and 139 complete denture or those with their own lower women), included in posterior teeth 17, 18).…”