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Complete edentulism and denture use for elders in New England
P A Marcus1, A Joshi, J A Jones
1Department of General Dentistry, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, USA.
The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry
|September 1, 1996
Summary
This study surveyed oral health in New England elders, finding 36.7% were edentulous. Most edentulous elders wore complete dentures, with over a third wearing them overnight, leading to palate irritation.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Oral Health
- Dental Public Health
Background:
- Edentulism is a significant oral health concern in the elderly population.
- Limited current data exists on the oral health status of noninstitutionalized elders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the oral health of a representative sample of noninstitutionalized elders in New England.
- To provide an updated descriptive analysis of completely edentulous elders.
Main Methods:
- In-home oral examinations and interviews were conducted.
- A representative sample of 1156 elders over 70 years of age participated.
- Examinations were performed by calibrated dentists; interviews by trained interviewers.
Main Results:
- 36.7% of participants (424/1156) were completely edentulous.
- Edentulism rates showed no significant gender difference but were inversely related to education and income.
- 89.9% of edentulous individuals possessed complete dentures, with 83.2% worn daily.
- Over one-third of edentulous participants wore dentures overnight.
- Denture-related irritations, primarily on the hard palate, affected 77 individuals.
Conclusions:
- A substantial proportion of noninstitutionalized New England elders are edentulous.
- The high prevalence of denture wear, including overnight use, is associated with oral irritations.
- Findings highlight the need for ongoing oral health monitoring and denture care education in this demographic.