Radiographic periodontal findings in an elderly Finnish population

By means of panoramic radiography and additional intraoral radiographs, the occurrence of calculus, the extent of horizontal bone loss, the depth and number of infrabony pockets, the number of furcation lesions, and the number of interproximal restoration overhangs were studied in 169 dentate 76-, 81-, and 86-year-old subjects (54 male and 115 females) living at home. Alveolar bone loss (horizontal or vertical) among the participants was common, and in only 8 subjects (5%) was it judged non-existent. It was slight in 30 subjects (18%), moderate in 53 (31%), and advanced in 78 (46%). Infrabony pockets were found in 51% of the subjects and furcation lesions in 28%. The presence of calculus did not correlate with the other parameters. The number of interproximal overhangs was associated with the number of infrabony pockets and of furcation lesions (R=0.3, p<0.001 and p<0.0001) and the number of infrabony pockets with the number of furcation lesions (R=0.4, p<0.0001). Our study shows that periodontal findings are common in the dentate elderly, and associations recently found between periodontal infections and several serious diseases make radiographic examination an integral part of the oral examination of the elderly patient.