Oral health of individuals aged 3-80 years in Jönköping, Sweden, in 1973 and 1983. II. A review of clinical and radiographic findings.

The comparison of the three studies from 1973, 1983, and 1993 shows that there has been a great improvement in oral health over this 20-year period and an increase in plaque and gingivitis in some younger age groups calls for special attention.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to present data from clinical and radiographic examinations on oral health in two cross-sectional studies carried out in 1973 and 1983. A random sample of approximately 1000 individuals, evenly distributed in the age groups 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 years was studied for each of these two years. In the 1983-year examination 80 individuals, 80 years of age, were also included. All subjects were inhabitants of the community of Jönköping, Sweden. The clinical and radiographic examination assessed edentulousness, removable dentures, number of teeth, caries, restorations and overhangs, gingival and periodontal status, oral hygiene and calculus, endodontic treatment and periapical status. A reduction in number of edentulous individuals by 25% was recorded between the two examinations. This was matched by an increase in the mean number of teeth, mainly of molars. The largest difference in mean number of teeth between the 1973 and 1983 examinations was found for the 70-year-olds. These were 8.5 and 11.8 teeth respectively. The younger age groups showed an increase in the proportion of individuals free from caries and restorations. In 1973 the caries-free proportions were 35% for 3-year-olds and 9% for 5-year-olds. In 1983 these values had improved to 70% and 29% respectively. Corresponding to this trend the number of decayed tooth surfaces was lower in 1983. Fewer filled tooth surfaces were present 1983 compared with 1973 for the age groups 10, 15, 20 and 30 years but higher for the age groups 5, 50 and 60 years and unchanged for the remaining groups. For the younger age groups the overall reduction in DFS was about 50% but this increased to 90% for buccal and lingual surfaces. Both secondary caries and overhanging restorations had decreased in the 1983 group for all ages. At least 75-86% of restorations were without overhangs in 1983 compared to 47-65% in 1973. Gingival health had improved over the 10-year period. Sites with plaque and calculus and gingival units exhibiting gingivitis had all decreased in frequency by 1983. Buccal surfaces showed the greatest improvement. The frequency of individuals with one or more periodontal pockets (greater than or equal to 4 mm) increased with age but was of the same distribution in 1983 as in 1973.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)