[Dental health and dental attendance among 25- and 40-year olds]

Dental and periodontal status and treatment needs were among the parameters assessed and related to the use of oral health services of 25- and 40-year olds in the community of Balsfjord, Northern Norway. The 25-year olds were found to have an average of 27.3 teeth. 13.6 DMFT and no deep periodontal pockets (greater than 5.5 mm). The oldest group had an average of 20.2 teeth. Twenty per cent wore a full denture in one or both jaws, and deep periodontal pockets were found in 6% of remaining sextants in those with only one full denture. The effect of oral health care use and social status were found to be different in the two age-groups. In the 25-year olds, frequent dental health care use was found to have a significant negative effect on both caries experience and periodontal pockets when adjusted for sex and educational background. The findings may indicate a possibility of accumulation of false positive diagnoses with overtreatment as a consequence. This may be the main explanation of this negative effect on the dental status. The level of education appeared to have a significant positive influence on the oral health in the 40-year olds. However, the use of oral health care services showed no significant effect in this group.