Time estimates for dental treatment in four age cohorts of an adult population

• Published in: Journal of public health dentistry Vol. 48; no. 4; p. 208
• Main Authors: Tervonen, E A, Virtanen, K K, Raustia, A M, Ainamo, J K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.12.1988
• Subjects: Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Dental Care; Dental Occlusion, Balanced; Dental Restoration, Permanent; Dentures; Female; Finland; Health Services Needs and Demand; Health Services Research; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Time Factors; Tooth Extraction; Finland
• ISSN: 0022-4006
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1752-7325.1988.tb03200.x

Needs for tooth extractions, conservative dental treatment--including periodontal and caries treatment--and occlusal rehabilitation--including stomatognathic and prosthetic treatment or a combination of these--in a Finnish adult population were summarized and time estimates for the treatment calculated. The study population consisted of 1,275 adults in four age cohorts--25, 35, 50, and 65 years. A decrease was observed from five hours of total dental treatment time needed at ages 25 and 35 years to four hours at age 50 years and three hours at 65 years. At the age of 25 years, 86 percent of the treatment time (255 min) was needed for conservative therapy, the corresponding figures at 65 years being 35 percent (66 min). On the other hand, a fivefold increase (from 13% to 62%) in the proportion of time needed for occlusal rehabilitation was observed between age 25 and 65. A combination of stomatognathic and prosthetic treatment was most frequently needed. The percent of time needed for tooth extractions varied from 1 to 3 percent among the four age cohorts.