[A sampled investigation on tooth loss of middle-aged and elders in Northeast China]

To investigate the current status and the distribution of tooth loss in middle-aged people and elders in Northeast China, and provide scientific basis for the establishment of oral health care policies.

An equal-sized stratified multi-stage random sampling design was applied according to the third national oral health investigation of epidemiology, tooth loss was examined among 4752 people aged 35-44 and 65-74 in northeast China. The data were analyzed with SPSS13.0 statistical software for independent-sample t test and Chi-square test.

Of all the subjects, 3135 people had tooth loss, the rate of tooth loss was 66.80%, mean tooth loss was 4.95; 392 persons were half edentulous, the rate of edentulous jaw was 8.35%, 223 persons were edentulous, the rate edentulous jaw was 4.75%. Statistical analysis showed tooth loss rate in females was significantly higher than that in males(P<0.05). There was significantly difference of tooth loss between city and rural area (P<0.05). There was significant difference in the amount and rate of tooth loss between Jilin Province and Liaoning Province, and Jilin Province and Heilongjiang Province as well (P<0.05).

The tooth loss rate is very high in middle-aged people and elders in Northeast China. Measures should be taken to prevent dental caries and periodontal disease in these population so that to promote the status of middle-aged people and elders on oral health and to improve their quality of life.