Development of edentulousness in Finland during the 1970's

From a representative sample of 8000 persons aged 30 yr and over, 7190 were examined clinically. Thirty-one percent were edentulous, 23% of the men and 38% of the women. Results of our study were compared with seven other nationwide studies of edentulousness in Finnish adults made during the last decade. For subjects 35-64 yr old the rate of edentulousness was lowest in our clinical study. For those over 64 yr old the rates of edentulousness varied from 54% to 67%. In general, results obtained using interviews or questionnaires gave higher percentages for edentulousness than did the clinical study. Statistical evaluation of the differences in rates found in these studies did not show edentulousness to be either increasing or decreasing in Finland during the 1970's.