Study of Lively Elderly from Dental Aspects (2) : DMF, Number of Molar Tooth, Periodontal Condition and Mobility of Tooth

Previous our study had shown that number of teeth presented were closely related to liveliness in an elderly. In order to clarify the relationship between wellness of oral function and liveliness in an elderly in detail, especially from the view point of the quality of teeth presented, we studied number of molar tooth presented. DMF, periodontal conditions, and mobility of teeth in the lively elderly examined previously. Periodontal conditions were estimated with gingival index, bleeding index, and probing depth. The lively elderly examined were selected on the basis of the following items: 1) People over 65 and less than 80 years old living in Kasuga-shi at present. 2) People without any subjective and objective diseases. 3) People with high social activities. 4) People recommended as being lively physically and mentally by the district senile clubs. The number, sex, and mean age of the subjects were 39 ( male 20 , female 19 ) and 73.3 years old. The data were compared with the authorized Japanese average values matched age of the subjects reported by Ministry of Health and Welfare. Japan. Mean number of molar tooth presented in the lively elderly was 2.7+-2.6, which was about double compared with the one of the Japanese average. Mean number of decayed(D), missing(M), treated(F), and DMF teeth per person were 0.6+1.4, 15.3+-9.6, 6.0+-5.7, and 19.7+-8.3 in the lively elderly, respectively. These data indicated significantly better dental condition with higher treatment rate compared with the Japanese average. Mean gingival and bleeding index were 1.6 and 47%, respectively, which indicate existence of gum inflammation spreaded moderately. However, quite few destructive periodontal disease with deep pocket over 4 mm was found. These data which indicate satisfying conditions of teeth periodontologically were supported by the data of low ratio(7.6%) of moving teeth/teeth presented. These results suggested that well dental state qualitatively were related to liveliness in an elderly