Changes in oral health over a 10-yr period in Switzerland

The Swiss Health Surveys are conducted every 5 yr, and alternate surveys contain information on oral health. Worldwide the population is ageing and oral health is improving. The aim of this study was to identify if these trends are continuing in a relatively affluent society with low levels of edentulousness. Participants in the 1992 and 2002 surveys completed a written questionnaire including items on oral health (response rates 75% and 86% respectively). Data were weighted and bivariate analyses were performed to calculate the average number of missing teeth and the prevalence of different prosthetic dental restorations for each cohort. Over the 10-yr period the proportion of subjects retaining all natural teeth increased, and the mean number of teeth increased, on average, by 1.3. Among those who required prosthetic dental restorations, fixed restorations increased and complete denture use was reduced. Strikingly, 4.4% of this sample reported having oral implants in 2002. Greater numbers of missing teeth and a higher prevalence of use of removable prostheses were still seen in women, in those who had only completed compulsory education, in subjects from families with low income, in those who smoke, and in those who were overweight, in 2002.