EDENTULOUSNESS IN ICELAND IN 1990 - A NATIONAL QUESTIONNAIRE SURVEY

Levels of edentulousness were established for seven age groups by mean s of self-administered questionnaires. The percentage of edentulousnes s in the Icelandic adult population (18 years and over) was 20.7%. Ede ntulousness was first reported in the 35- to 44-year-olds and increase d rapidly with age. Women had a higher level of edentulousness than me n, and the percentage of edentulous people in Reykjavik was significan tly lower than in towns, villages, and rural areas. The proportion of edentulous 35- to 44-year-olds and those 65 years old or older was sig nificantly lower than in a similar study in 1985. The percentage of 18 - to 79-year-old edentulous Icelanders in 1990 decreased considerably from the results of a national survey on oral health performed in 1962 , mainly as a result of a major reduction of edentulousness in the you nger age groups and among women.