Abstract
The present study surveyed elderly persons retaining 20 or more teeth per individual. The number of retained teeth was determined not only from replies to a questionnaire but from clinical examination by a dentist. The subjects studied were 54 participants (37 males and 17 females). The results can be summarized follows : 1. The correlation between questionnaires and oral examination was extremely high. 2. The average number of retained teeth in the male group was 24.6 and 23.3 in the female group. A higher average score was observed in the male group than in the female group. 3. The tooth with the highest intact rate was the lower left lateral incisor (78%), and the tooth with the lowest intact rate was the upper right second molar (12%). 4 . In the male group the tooth with the highest intact rate was the lower left central incisor and in the female group it was the lower lateral incisor. In both groups the tooth with the lowest intact rate was the lower left second molar. 5. The percent of subjects having difficulty in chewing was 22%. 6. It is important for elderly persons to have a personal dentist.
