Oral health differences among different generations of Japanese adults

Abstract

We surveyed the oral health of 3,273 adults between 1994 and 2006 to determine how the birth year affected oral health status.
    Three indices were studied ; DMFT, CPI (Community Periodontal Index) code 0 sextant, and oral age. Results for each person's first visit were analyzed based on the year of the examination and the birth year.
    For each examination year between 1994 and 2006, the caries prevalence and oral age decreased for subjects in the 20- to 29-year age group. However, the number of CPI code 0 sextants increased for subjects in the 20- to 29-year, 30- to 39-year, 40- to 49-year and 50- to 59-year age groups. Differences between those born after 1975 and those born between 1935 and 1974 were seen in caries prevalence and oral age. Differences in periodontal status were also found among those born between 1950 and 1974, between 1935 and 1949,and after 1975.
    These results show that adult oral health status has been improving in recent years. Based on these finding, we concluded that oral health activities should be different for each generation.