Oral health indicators for Korean Elderly

Jung,  Hoi In

J Korean Dent Assoc > Volume 58(1); 2020 > Article

The Journal of The Korean Dental Association 2020;58(1):45-49.
Published online January 31, 2019.

우리나라 노인의 구강건강 주요지표

정회인

연세대학교 치과대학 예방치과학교실

Oral health indicators for Korean Elderly

Hoi In Jung

Department of Preventive Dentistry & Public Oral Health College of Dentistry, Yonsei University

Abstract

Korean society is experiencing a very rapid change in population aging. Oral diseases, including dental caries and periodontal disease, are usually cumulative and make oral health worse with age. Preventing tooth loss through the prevention and treatment of caries and periodontal diseases are essential for retaining oral function later in life. This study aimed to identify the trend in oral health status among elderlies over 65 years old, using major oral health indicators of Health Plan 2020. The fifth, sixth, and seventh Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES V, VI, VII) were used in the present study to estimate the number of remaining natural teeth, the rate of 20 or more natural teeth, the rate of chewing difficulty, and the rate of oral health check-up of elderly. The number of remaining natural teeth increased from 15.6 in 2010 to 17.1 in 2015, and the rate of 20 or more natural teeth also increased from 45.8% in 2010 to 53.7% in 2015. The rate of chewing difficulty was similar but declined a little from 44.3% in 2010 to 42.9% in 2017. Finally, the rate of oral health check-ups of the elderly increased significantly from 12.2% in 2010 to 21.1% in 2017.

Key Words: Oral Health;Health Promotion;HP2020;Senior;Elderly;