Tooth survival in institutionalized elderly Cape Coloreds from the Cape Peninsula of South Africa

An investigation has been conducted in order to assess the oral health status and need for dental treatment among Cape Coloreds resident in homes for the aged in the Cape Peninsula of South Africa. Tooth loss was greater in females than in males (P less than 0.002) but a statistically significantly greater proportion of surviving teeth were grossly carious in men than in women (P less than 0.002). More teeth had survived in the mandible than in the maxilla (P less than 0.002) and proportionately more teeth were grossly carious in the maxilla than in the mandible (P less than 0.002). The distribution pattern of the remaining dentition according to tooth type was similar for both jaws, the canines being the most persistent teeth.