Oral health of individuals aged 3-80 years in Jönköping, Sweden in 1973, 1983, and 1993 : II. Review of clinical and radiographic findings

• The aim of this epidemiological study was to analyse various clinical and radiographic data on oral health and compare the results to those of two cross-sectional studies carried out in 1973 and 1983. In 1973, 1983, and 1993 a random sample of 1000, 1104, and 1078 individuals, respectively were studied. The individuals were evenly distributed in the age groups 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, and 70 years. In 1983 and 1993 80-year-olds were also included. All subjects were inhabitants of the community of Jönköping, Sweden. The clinical and radiographic examination assessed edentulousness, removable dentures, implants, number of teeth, caries, restorations and overhangs, oral hygiene, calculus, periodontal status, endodontic treatment, and periapical status. The number of edentulous individuals was reduced by half from 1973 to 1993 and is now 8% in the age groups 40-70 years. The mean number of teeth has increased and up to the age of 50 years the individuals had more or less complete dentitions. During the 20-year period there was generally decreasing number of carious lesions and restorations. In the 15- and 20-year-olds, however, there was an increasing number of decayed/filled tooth surfaces in 1993 compared to 1983. Furthermore, after the age of 50 there was an increase in number of restored tooth surfaces. As regards secondary caries there was an increase for the 10- and 15-year-olds between 1983 and 1993. For all other age groups there were only minor differences. Generally restorations exhibited a high quality and 85-90% had no proximal overhangs. In 1973 this figure was about 60%. Concerning the frequency of tooth surfaces exhibiting plaque and gingival inflammation there was a considerable decrease from 1973 to 1983, but during the period from 1983 to 1993 there seems to be no improvement. In some age groups there was even a significant increase in plaque (15-year-olds) and gingivitis (3-, 5-, 15-, 20-, and 60-year-olds). The frequency of individuals with one or more periodontal pockets (> 4 mm) increased with age. In 1993 the bone level at the age of 40 years corresponded to the bone level at the age of 20 years in 1973. The percentage of endodontically treated teeth was lower in 1993 in all age groups than in 1973 and 1983. The percentage of endodontically treated teeth with periapical or juxtaradicular destructions was unchanged in all three studies. The comparison of the three studies from 1973, 1983, and 1993 shows that there has been a great improvement in oral health over this 20-year period. In 1993, however, the increasing number of decayed/filled tooth surfaces in the 15- and 20-year-olds and an increase in plaque and gingivitis in some younger age groups calls for special attention.

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