The Brisbane Statistical Division Survey of Adult Dental Health 1984. 3. Dental health status and treatment needs.

Abstract

AbstractDental status and treatment requirements were investigated in 1504 subjects. Mean numbers of decayed, missing and filled (DMF) teeth for the various age groups were: 15–19 years, 6.2; 20–24 years, 10.6; 25–29 years, 15.8; 30–34 years, 18.1; 35–44 years, 20.4; 45–54 years, 23.0; 55–64 years, 26.2; and 65 years and older, 28.7. Total tooth loss did not occur in the 15–19 years or 20–24 years groups. In the 25–29 years group 2.6 per cent of subjects had lost all their teeth, 4.2 per cent in the 30–34 year group and 5.0 per cent in the 35–44 year group. The figures for the older age groups rose dramatically with almost 60 per cent of the 65 year and older age group having lost all their natural teeth. Treatment requirements for all age groups were low. In the 15–19 year age group 62.4 per cent of subjects had no treatment requirements. In other age groups the proportion was lower, ranging from 43.2 to 55.9 per cent. The periodontal condition of subjects was relatively good with only 3.3 per cent requiring complex treatment for severe forms of periodontal disease. A high proportion (over 50 per cent in all but the 15–19 year age group) required scaling and improved personal oral hygiene.