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Oral Health and the Epidemiology of Oral Disease in Older Adults

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The Epidemiology of Aging

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Abstract

The most common oral diseases in older adults (≥60 years of age) are dental caries, chronic periodontal disease and tooth loss, with oral cancer also important. Dental caries are caused by metabolic changes in a biofilm. Dry mouth is an important risk factor. Preventions include fluorides, toothbrushing and flossing. Periodontal disease (i.e., gingivitis, periodontitis) is associated with pathological changes in oral biofilm microbial ecology, supragingival biofilm in gingivitis and subgingival in periodontitis. Both cause localized gingival tissue inflammation, but periodontitis can result in destruction of tooth-supporting bone and gingival tissue, leading to tooth loss. Risk factors include genetic and other immune-response-altering factors. Preventions include daily personal oral hygiene for gingivitis, professional dental hygiene for periodontitis and smoking cessation for both. Tooth loss was once expected with aging, but now more tooth-retaining approaches to oral disease management are used. Lower income and less educated individuals have fewer retained teeth and higher rates of complete loss of teeth. Oral cancer is most common in older adults, with tobacco use being the most important risk factor. Overall, oral disease can detrimentally affect social functioning and quality of life.

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Abbreviations

CAL:

Clinical Attachment Loss

CDC:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

CRI:

Root Caries Index

CRP:

C-reactive protein

DMF:

Decayed, Missing and Filled index

DMFT:

Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth

GOHAI:

Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index

HPV:

Human Papillomavirus

HT:

Hormone Therapy

NHANES:

National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys

OHIP:

Oral Health Impact Profile

PPD:

Periodontal Probing Depth

RR:

Relative Risk

SE:

Standard Error

US:

United States

WHO:

World Health Organization

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Dental Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, 346 Salk Hall, 3501 Terrace Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA

    Robert J. Weyant DMD, Dr PH

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  1. Robert J. Weyant DMD, Dr PH
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Correspondence to Robert J. Weyant DMD, Dr PH .

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  1. , Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, A527 Crabtree Hall, DeSoto Street 130, Pittsburgh, 15261, Pennsylvania, USA

    Anne B. Newman

  2. Graduate School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh, DeSoto Street, A510 Crabtree 130, Pittsburgh, 15261, Pennsylvania, USA

    Jane A. Cauley

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Weyant, R.J. (2012). Oral Health and the Epidemiology of Oral Disease in Older Adults. In: Newman, A., Cauley, J. (eds) The Epidemiology of Aging. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5061-6_21

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