Major clinical findings from a dental survey of elderly people in three different English communities

Abstract

A random sample of 2280 subjects aged 60 years or over from three areas of England were examined clinically in order to assess their dental health and needs. Between 33% (south of England) and 57% (north of England) were edentulous. Twenty per cent of all dentate subjects were edentulous in one arch and thus still required a complete denture. Amongst the dentate subjects geographical differences were small, but social class and behavioural differences were large. Dental non-attenders were the group who stood out as having much poorer oral health, averaging six fewer natural teeth than attenders. Nearly 50% of all teeth either had coronal fillings or needed them. Root caries was common, 20-22% of vulnerable teeth were affected and there was an age related increase in disease risk. The mean number of teeth with decayed roots per subject (0.8) was similar to the mean number with decayed coronal surfaces (0.9). Moderate tooth wear and moderate periodontal disease were both widespread. A minority of subjects had a functional dentition of 21 or more teeth. Major changes in the dental status of older adults have taken place in the last 30 years and these will continue, resulting in lower levels of edentulousness but a large need for maintenance of existing restorations.

Attitudes and practice in the provision of removable partial dentures

“…The both the GDPs decision to provide a RPD and its subsequent success were patient desire to have a partial denture and aesthetic value associated with having a RPD. This supports previous fi ndings 10,11 and endorses the view that patients are unlikely to wear a RPD in the absence of self perceived need. 4,[11][12] half of all dentists reported designing their own RPD in practice, again possibly associated with the difficulty of resolving time and cost.…”

Relação entre cárie, gengivite e fluorose e nível socioeconômico em escolares

“…17 A não-relação entre tratamento odontológico e experiência de cárie (CPO) também é observada em outros estudos. 4,15 Apesar de se ter constatado diferença na prevalência de fluorose entre os escolares das redes particular e pública, a sua gravidade não ocasiona nenhum problema de saúde pública. O grau da fluorose observada, tanto na rede de ensino particular como na pública, tem envolvimento apenas cosmético, que não é percebido pela grande maioria das pessoas.…”

Determining 'need' for a Removable Partial Denture: a qualitative study of factors that influence dentist provision and patient use

“…Some 30-50% of patients never or only occasionally wear their denture. 5,6 This represents a significant discrepancy between professionally assessed need and patient expressed demand and, together with their potential to generate an additional long-term treatment need, 7,10 a considerable potential waste of resources within the NHS.…”