Trends and prognoses of dental status in the Swedish population: analysis based on interviews in 1975 to 1997 by Statistics Sweden

The aims of this study were to describe changes in dental status over the 2 2-year period from 1975 to 1997, and to make a prognosis of dental status b ased on these data for the years 2005 and 2015. The study is based on regul ar investigations of the living conditions performed by Statistics Sweden o f samples varying between 11,582 and 14,964 participants and a response rat e from 78% to 86%. The questions of the interview used in this study were f ocused on dental status and utilization of dental services. The prevalence of edentulism in the age group 25-74 years decreased from 19% in 1975 to 3% in 1996/97. The proportion of dentate persons increased from 75% in 1975 t o 97% in 1996/97 in age group 45-64 years with similar trends in the other age groups. In 1996/97, 2.1% of the whole sample (16-84 years) reported tha t they had received implant-supported restorations. The rate was higher amo ng the elderly and the edentulous subjects. The great regional differences in dental status found in the first part of the observation period remained only in the oldest age group in 1996/97. The prognosis predicts that 95% o f the subjects in age group 65-74 years and 90% in age group 75-84 years wi ll be dentate in the year 2015. The substantial increase of dentate subject s among the elderly that has occurred during the past few decades and its e xpected continuation in the coming years implies a great change in need and demand for dental care services.