Oral health status in a Finnish village

The aim of this study was to describe edentulousness, numbers of remaining teeth, dental caries, caries experience, periodontal pockets, and background factors in a Finnish village. It was particularly aimed at determining the incidence of simultaneous occurrence of untreated caries lesions and periodontal pockets. It was carried out in 1988 in Viekijärvi, a village in North Karelia. Half of the population was invited to participate in the investigation. Seventy-two percent of those invited participated (n = 179). The subjects were examined clinically using standard WHO methods and criteria. The subjects were interviewed to establish socioeconomical factors and health habits. Thirty-five per cent of subjects were edentulous. Numbers of remaining teeth decreased with age, except in the age group 55-59 years. Numbers of teeth and edentulousness were strongly associated with use of dental services but not with health habits. More than half of the dentate population had untreated caries. Of habits affecting health, only smoking was associated with caries. Twenty-nine per cent of the dentate population had shallow pockets and 7% deep pockets. The occurrence of pockets was negatively associated with frequency of handwashing. Only 20% of the dentate population were orally healthy. The age group 55-59 years was healthier than the younger and older groups.