Canines are usually used in anthropological and forensic sciences for sex and age determination. The best methods to estimate age are based on secondary dentine apposition, evaluated from periapical X-rays. The aim of this study was to propose a new method of sex and age estimation using 3D models to obtain more precise predictions using tooth volumes. Fifty-eight dental CT scans of patients aged 14-74 with a well-balanced sex ratio composed the sample. One hundred and thirty-three healthy canines were modeled (Mimics 12.0). The sample was divided into a training sample and a validation sample. An age formula was determined using the "pulp volume/tooth volume" ratio. Sex prediction was adjusted with total volumes. Applying the equations to the validation sample, no significant difference was found between the real and predicted ages, and 100% of the sex predictions were correct. This preliminary study gives interesting results, and this method is worth being tested on a larger data sample.

ObjectiveWe aimed to analyze, from the data in a national survey, the use of oral care and the oral health status of patients living at home or in an institution.BackgroundPatients aged 60 years and older have important oral health needs, but their oral management may differ according to their immediate environment. The fact of living at home or in an institution can influence the use of care and alter the patients’ perception of their oral health status.MethodsThe data analyzed were taken from a survey on disability and health carried out in 2008–2009, which is representative of the population living in France. It consists of two sections, one centered on disability and health among home-dwellers and the other on patients living in an institution. In each of these two populations, we carried out descriptive analysis of three themes: use of care, forgoing of care, and oral health.ResultsAlthough visits to physicians and specialists were frequent, visits to dentists were lower in both populations. While a minority of patients forwent care, it was dental care that was mainly forgone by both home-dwellers and institutionalized patients. The cost factor remained the principal reason, but other factors such as fear or accessibility problems were cited. Use of a dental appliance was considerably more frequent among institutionalized patients than among home-dwellers, with just over half the institutionalized population wearing a dental appliance. Perceived state of oral health remained difficult to interpret.ConclusionTo improve access to oral care for the elderly, the patients, their entourage and health providers need increased awareness and information on the importance of good oral health. Better information must be associated with regular clinical examination.

Objective The aim of this study was to compare the perceived oral health of elderly persons and the clinical reality of their oral status. Background Persons aged over 60 have considerable need for oral health care; a need that increases over time. However, this population appears to be unaware of their state of oral health, and this may be a further obstacle to professional management. We thought it useful to examine the objective and the perceived oral health of these patients. Understanding what may influence their perception can help us to improve their management. Methods The data analyzed in this work are the findings of a field survey carried out in elderly nursing home residents. Their objective oral health was evaluated by using two variables: oral profile, determined by clinical examination, and the oral health index determined using the Oral Health Assessment Tool (OHAT). Perceived oral health was evaluated using the various categories and fields of the General Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI). Results Our clinical study showed a discrepancy between perceived oral health and the clinical reality: although a significant association can be demonstrated between the OHAT and the GOHAI, there are considerable variations. It also appeared that the number of teeth and total edentation considerably influence perceived oral health and that findings vary according to different situations. Conclusion Numerous factors influence elderly persons’ perception of their true oral health. In order to improve our elders’ quality of life, the necessary measures must be taken for the follow-up and regular monitoring of their oral health. At the same time, all possible means should be used and awareness should be raised to improve the health behavior and perception of patients and their entourage.

Background/purpose Overdenture with single symphyseal implant is one of the useful clinical approach for elderly edentulous patients. We aimed to evaluate edentulous patients with regards to the relationship between dimensions, bone characteristics, cancellous densities, and cortical thickness of the mandibular symphyseal region using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Material and methods We analyzed 103 CBCT from pre-implant investigations. All included patients were healthy without any disorders affecting bone metabolism. We performed 13 measurements for each patient: 9 of height, width, and thickness (mm) and 4 of density (Hounsfield Units; HU). Fisher's exact test was applied to examine the association between two categorical variables, the Pearson correlation coefficient to measure the strength of linear relationship between two quantitative variables. We used the two-sample Student's t-test to compare mean symphysis height between men and women, the paired Student's t-test to compare mean lingual and buccal cortical thickness. For all tests, the threshold of significance was fixed at 5%. Results Men and women significantly differed with regards to mean total symphysis height ( p = 0.004) and the distribution of Cawood and Howell classifications ( p = 0.033). Symphysis height was negatively correlated with mean density of cancellous bone (r = −0.453, p < 0.001). Mean lingual cortical thickness significantly differed from mean vestibular thickness ( p < 0.001, paired Student's t-test). Conclusion Present findings supported that symphyseal measurements are parameters that reflect the symphysis bone characteristics, and can guide the choice of a suitable implant design.