Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the radiographically-detected marginal and apical periodontal conditions in elderly people. The subjects were 100 (57 males, 43 females) people at least 70 years old who underwent oral examinations in Niigata City in 1998 (baseline examination), 1999 and 2000. The following parameters calculated on panoramic radiograph were studied for alveolar bone loss and apical periodontal conditions (the existence of periapical lesions, and root canal fillings). We compared subjects by number of teeth and Eichner index (following EI). Third molars were excluded from all analyses. In the baseline study, the rate of nonvital teeth was 36.9%, and the rate of periapical lesions was 35.6%. The mean alveolar bone loss was 30.1% (SD=12.1) in 1998 (baseline examination) and 31.3% (SD=12.2) in 2000. This increase was significant (p<0.05). The mean alveolar bone loss compared by number of teeth was 36.4% in those with 1-9 present teeth, 34.0% for 10-19 present teeth, 27.5% for 20 or more present teeth. The number of teeth lost in 2 years was 50, 7 vital teeth and 43 nonvital. The results of tooth-level multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the incidence of 50% or more alveolar bone loss was high in anterior teeth, molars, males, and 20 or more present teeth. Tooth-level multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the incidence of tooth loss was high in nonvital teeth, teeth with periapical lesions, 50% or more alveolar bone loss, and teeth with clasps. These findings suggest that elderly people with 20 or more present teeth have a low risk of alveolar bone loss and tooth loss. They further suggested that preservation of the pulp was associated with decline of the risk factors for tooth loss.
