Tooth loss, occluding pairs, and prosthetic status of Chinese adults

The objectives of this analysis were to describe the numbers of teeth lost and those indicated for extraction, dental prosthetic status, and occluding tooth pairs among adults in Southern China and to investigate factors affe cting tooth mortality. A sample consisting of 1573 35- to 44-year-old and 1 515 65- to 74-year-old urban and rural Chinese was examined clinically by c alibrated examiners. Teeth not present for any reason were defined as missi ng (MT). The sum of MT and teeth indicated for extraction (IMT) was defined as adjusted missing teeth (AMT). Only 4.4% of the urban and 3.4% of the ru ral 65- to 74-year-olds were edentulous. NIT were not significantly differe nt between urban and rural residents, but more IMT were found in rural resi dents. Women, those who had a lower education level, and those who were les s wealthy had more AMT in both age groups. Smoking was found to be associat ed with AMT in the 35- to 44-year-olds. Eighteen percent of the urban and 2 7% of the rural elderly had no occluding tooth pairs after IMT were account ed for, and only 38% and 30%, respectively, had 10 or more occluding pairs. Fifty-one percent of the urban and 43% of the rural elderly were found to have some form of dental prostheses in either jaw. A partial denture was mo re common in urban residents in both age groups.