Oral health and functioning in older adults in Switzerland from 1970 to 2025 - a systematic review and meta-analysis

This systematic review analysed the oral health status, chewing function, and quality of life among individuals aged ≥ 65 years in Switzerland using studies published from 1970 onwards.

The electronic databases Embase, MEDLINE via PubMed, Swiss data repositories, and manual searches were screened. Risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute tools. Meta-analyses were performed using the random-effects models with 95% confidence intervals to assess the prevalence of edentulism, periodontal disease, and dental prostheses, as well as the mean number of decayed, missing, and filled teeth and DMFT scores, stratified by living situation and decade.

Across time, edentulism declined markedly (44% in 1980-1990 to 4% in 2020-2025), alongside reductions in the mean number of missing teeth (13.5, 95% CI 12.07-14.93 in 1980-1989 to 5.5 95% CI 3.41-7.59 in 2020-2025). Community dwellers exhibited better oral health status and masticatory performance, while oral hygiene remained moderate to poor across all settings. Very limited evidence was available on oral health-related quality of life, with only three studies reporting patient-reported outcomes.

Overall, oral health among older adults in Switzerland has improved. Across several decades, community-dwelling older adults consistently exhibited better oral health than those living in long-term care facilities (LTF) or hospital settings.