Periodontal conditions in 65-74 year old adults in France, 1995.

In 1995, a study was undertaken in France to assess the periodontal health status of 603 noninstitutionalized elderly subjects aged 65-74 years. Thirty areas were identified in the Rhône-Alpes region, with a sampling method based on stratified quotas according to sex, place of residence and socio-economic group (S-EG). The CPITN index was used. The total prevalence of healthy dentate adults (n = 483) was 16.5 per cent, whilst 16.3 per cent of the adults were edentulous. The prevalence of CPITN code 1 + 2 (low) was 50.7. The higher S-EG having fewer codes 1 and 2 (45.8 per cent) than the lower S-EG (49.7 per cent) and the medium S-EG (55.7 per cent). The total prevalence of periodontal disease (code 3 + 4) was 31.5. The prevalence of periodontal disease was lower in adults of medium socio-economic status and was also lower in adults living in urban residences. Overall, 66.9 per cent of the entire population needed oral hygiene instruction, 56.6 per cent scaling and 2.3 per cent complex periodontal treatment.