Epidemiology of dental diseases in the elderly.

The aging of the American population will have enormous social ramifications, among which will be a greater focus on the elderly patient. Traditionally, the dental status of this group has been extracted teeth and full dentures, but that is now steadily changing. There were 41.1% of Americans aged 65 or older who were edentulous in 1985 to 1986, but a good proportion of them have been edentulous for many years. The prevalence of total tooth loss will continue to decline with time. The growth of a dentate elderly population, however, leaves more of that group at risk of caries. Caries, once seen as a disease of childhood, is now clearly a lifelong disease. Elderly persons are particularly at risk of root caries, which follows as a consequence of periodontitis. Total tooth loss and severe caries are both associated with lower socioeconomic status. Although cross-sectional survey data invariably show, on average, a greater extent of periodontitis among older than among younger persons, periodontitis is not considered a disease of aging. The age difference in surveys is not because of greater susceptibility among the elderly but represents disease accumulated over time. Limited longitudinal data suggest that rapid loss of periodontal attachment, serious enough to threaten the dentition, is found in 7% to 15% of any population. But this group exhibits the disease when young. Those who have retained a more-or-less intact dentition into old age rarely exhibit a sudden onset of periodontitis. If such a change is seen it could be indicative of broader changes in the immune system.