[The health status and bucco-dental pathology in the elderly]

By analysing in 2,769 patients the relation between bucco-dental pathology and age, it was noticed that the frequency of odontic affections decreases and that of chronic marginal periodontopathies increases with age. In the elderly, a tendency towards delaying the treatment of pulp inflammations and a very high percentage of extractions performed in the chronic marginal periodontopathies (81.8%) were noticed. The bucco-dental state of health was determined in 75 old-aged over 60 years, the ICORA and CPITN indices being used. Of these individuals, 93.3% presented various edentate forms, half without prosthetic appliance. Various degrees of pathological changes in the marginal periodontium were recorded in 92.3%, being more severe in women and individuals from rural areas.