Oral health status and self-rated health in 80 year-old community dwelling people

Oral health is an important discipline of health that can affect functioning of health and have severe consequences. The aim of the study was to examine the oral health of the older people and how oral health is associated with self-rated health. The study was a part of Evergreen Project conducted by the University of Jyväskylä. The participants were 80-year-old persons living in the city of Jyväskylä, People who were living in institutions were excluded from the study sample (N= 262, 74 men, 188 women). The study included clinical measures of oral health such as participant’s need for dental care. The data were analyzed by chi square test, t-test and logistic regression analysis. Among men and women significant differences were found in the number of intact teeth, number of decayed teeth and decayed missing filled teeth index (DMFT). There was no association between self-rated health and oral health status (Odds Ratio 2.5, 95% Confidence Interval 0.80-7.5). The results indicate that there was no association between self-rated health and oral health. It explains that dental care at old age could affect not only oral health but also can affect individual senses of general health. Future studies should be carried to investigate and reveal more information on oral health and self-rated health. Keywords: Self-rated health, older people. oral health, dental care.