Association between socioeconomic and health factors and edentulism in people aged 65 and older - a population-based survey.

AIMS: To study edentulism and use of dental services in a population-based sample of people aged 65 years and older from northern Sweden and western Finland.

METHODS: In 2010, people aged 65, 70, 75 and 80 years who were living in one of 32 municipalities in northern Sweden and western Finland were invited to answer a questionnaire as part of the Gerontological Regional Database (GERDA) study ( n = 6099). The questionnaire contained items related to socioeconomic status, general health and edentulism.

RESULTS: The prevalence of edentulism was 34.9% in Finland, compared with 20.6% in Sweden ( p < 0.001), 31.9% in rural areas, compared with 20.9% in urban areas ( p < 0.001), and 25% overall. The prevalence of edentulism rose from 17.8% in 65-year-olds, 23.8% in 70-year-olds, 33.5% in 75-year-olds and 37.3% in 80-year-olds ( p < 0.001), and was 23.8% in women, compared with 27% in men ( p < 0.001). In multivariate models, edentulism was associated with lower educational level (odds ratio (OR) 2.87, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.31-3.58), low income level (OR 1.7, CI 1.09-1.47), residence in a rural area (OR 1.43, CI 1.23-1.66), male sex (OR 1.30, CI 1.12-1.52), dependence in instrumental activities of daily living (OR 1.48, CI 1.25-1.74), social isolation (OR 1.52, CI 1.17-1.98) and poor self-experienced health (OR 1.38, CI 1.17-1.62).

CONCLUSIONS: One-quarter of the total sample was edentulous, with a higher prevalence of edentulism in Finland than in Sweden and in rural than in urban areas. Edentulism was associated with socioeconomic, psychological and health-related factors. These findings could be used to inform preventive measures and identify people aged 65 years and older who are in need of oral care.