A COMPARISON OF ORAL HEALTH IN 70-YEAR-OLD CITY COHORTS IN UMEA NORTHERN SWEDEN IN 1981 AND 1990 - ORAL PROBLEMS, DENTAL AND PERIODONTAL STATUS

A comparison of oral health in two different samples of 70-year-old me n and women living in the city of Umea in 1981 and 1990 showed that a higher frequency of dental visits among men could be expected in the c ity population in 1990 (95%CI). The frequency and pattern of reported oral problems was similar in 1981 and 1990. Total edentulousness among men and women in 1981/1990 was 31.3/21,4 and 53.5/35.7% respectively. The lower frequency in 1990 was not statistically significant on the population level. The mean number of teeth was lower in dentated men ( 12.8 +/- 6.6 V.S. 17.4 +/- 5.4) (p < 0.05) and women (16.9 +/- 6.3 V.S . 13.9 +/- 8.4) (n.s.) in 1990 compared with in 1981 and the functiona l index according to Eichner showed no difference. Thus, the lower fre quency of edentulousness in 1990 mainly seemed to be tile result of an other distribution of about the same total amount of teeth, on more pe ople. The bleeding index showed values around 30% in both cohorts. Bot h men and women whowed less recurrent caries in 1990 (p less than or e qual to 0.05). Men showed a higher number of missing teeth (p less tha n or equal to 0.01) and of de-cayed root surfaces (p less than or equa l to 0.05) in 1990. The latter might be explained by a larger exposed root surface area which was indicated by a higher frequency (n.s.) of surfaces with an attachment level > 3 mm in the cohort examined in 199 0. Although, the compared 70-year-old city cohorts in Umea examined in 1981 and 1990 showed a higher frequency of dental visits and of denta ted subjects, no improvement in reported oral health or dental status could be found in the 70-year-old in Umea in 1990.