Burden of poor oral health in older age: findings from a population-based study of older British men

Abstract

ObjectivesEvidence of the extent of poor oral health in the older UK adult population is limited. We describe the prevalence of oral health conditions, using objective clinical and subjective measures, in a population-based study of older men.DesignCross-sectional study.Setting and participantsA representative sample of men aged 71–92 years in 2010–2012 from the British Regional Heart Study, initially recruited in 1978–1980 from general practices across Britain. Physical examination among 1660 men included the number of teeth, and periodontal disease in index teeth in each sextant (loss of attachment, periodontal pocket, gingival bleeding). Postal questionnaires (completed by 2147 men including all participants who were clinically examined) included self-rated oral health, oral impacts on daily life and current perception of dry mouth experience.ResultsAmong 1660 men clinically examined, 338 (20%) were edentulous and a further 728 (43%) had <21 teeth. For periodontal disease, 233 (19%) had loss of attachment (>5.5 mm) affecting 1–20% of sites while 303 (24%) had >20% sites affected. The prevalence of gingival bleeding was 16%. Among 2147 men who returned postal questionnaires, 35% reported fair/poor oral health; 11% reported difficulty eating due to oral health problems. 31% reported 1–2 symptoms of dry mouth and 20% reported 3–5 symptoms of dry mouth. The prevalence of edentulism, loss of attachment, or fair/poor self-rated oral health was greater in those from manual social class.ConclusionsThese findings highlight the high burden of poor oral health in older British men. This was reflected in both the objective clinical and subjective measures of oral health conditions. The determinants of these oral health problems in older populations merit further research to reduce the burden and consequences of poor oral health in older people.

Evaluation of periodontal status and treatment needs of institutionalized intellectually disabled individuals in Lebanon

“…Higher CPITN scores were associated with the adult than the adolescent sample, and increasing age was a significant predictor of CPITN score severity when all other background and behavioral factors were taken into account. This general increase in CPITN scores or in other indicators of periodontitis with increasing age has been similarly reported in earlier investigations[16171819] and may be due to the cumulative effects of calculus and the progressive nature of periodontal disease and the cumulative effects of periodontal breakdown over time. [20] Our results also support previous assessments of intellectual disabled populations reporting low prevalence of healthy periodontium and the predominance of bleeding and calculus.…”

Periodontitis as a Modifiable Risk Factor for Dementia: A Nationwide Population‐Based Cohort Study

“…Poor oral health, which includes periodontitis, caries, and edentulism, is one of the most common medical conditions worldwide. Severe periodontitis has been reported to be the sixth most prevalent condition worldwide and is more prevalent in elderly people than in the general population . Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease in which multiple microorganisms infect the tissues that support the teeth.…”

Factors that influence the oral impact on daily performance of older people in Brazil: A cross‐sectional population‐based study

“…Population‐based studies have shown that prevalence of oral impacts on the quality of life of older people ranged between 14% and 57.8% worldwide . Other less representative cross‐sectional studies have found prevalence of OIDP ranging between 57.9% and 92.7% .…”

“…The impact of oral health conditions on the population's well‐being and quality of life has been remarkably investigated worldwide . Nevertheless, not all investigations are population‐based studies.…”