Dental Characteristics of the Older Adult
As the population matures, more older adults are retaining their teeth. Statistics show that nearly 40 years ago, 75% of those aged 75 and older were edentulous. Recent data suggests that no more than 40% of persons in this age group are edentulous. 3 Although edentulism is less prevalent, overall there is still a high incidence in those of lower socioeconomic status. People with incomes below the poverty level were twice as. likely to be edentulous. In addition, edentulism is higher among African Americans than Caucasians. Geography also plays a role in edentulism statistics. States such as Hawaii, California, and Oregon report a tooth loss rate of 14 to 16%; however, in states such as Kentucky and West Virginia the tooth loss rate is as high as 44 to 48%.4
When oral health care is neglected, many older adults face various problems, such as oral pain that can affect their quality of life and cause them to withdraw socially. Oral pain can lead to more severe dental and systemic problems by compromising nutritional intake. Research shows there is a correlation between racial/ethnic background and level of education and seeking help for oral pain. Older Caucasian adults with a higher level of education were less likely to report oral pain than those from other racial/ethnic backgrounds and lower educational levels.4
The most significant risk for tooth loss in older adults is dental caries, in particular, root caries. Males are more affected by root caries than females and it most commonly occurs in the molar teeth. Other risk factors include low socioeconomic status, previous tooth loss, poor oral hygiene, and inadequate dentalseeking behaviors. Xerostomia, fixed or removable partials, abrasions at the cementoenamel junction, and diets composed of soft, sticky and/or sugary foods are also
contributing factors to root caries.4
Periodontal disease is another area of concern in the older adult population. Studies have reported that 40% of ambulatory older adults have gingivitis, while 33 to 60% have some degree of periodontal destruction.5
Approximately 15,000 older adults are affected each year by oral cancer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that oral cancer is responsible for nearly 8,000 deaths each year. More than half of these deaths occur among those aged 65 and older.4
