Objectives: To determine tooth loss, edentulousness, causes of tooth loss and pattern of tooth loss in the elderly in South East Local Government area (SELGA) in Ibadan.
Background data: SELGA is one of the largest in Oyo State, Nigeria and has a population of 225,800.
Design: A cross-sectional survey.
Methodology: A total of 690 elderly individuals who were 65 years and above living in various wards in SELGA were interviewed by two interviewers and examined by two trained and calibrated examiners whilst two record clerks recorded all the findings of the examination.
Result: Forty-eight per cent of the subjects in the study had not lost any teeth. The mean tooth loss was 4.5+/-7.6. Percentage edentulousness was 1.3% and this was higher in males than in females. This difference was not statistically significant (chi(2)=0.07 p=0.7). The total number of teeth lost was 3,102, 14% of the total number of teeth examined. The study showed that caries was not a major cause of tooth loss. Only 22 (0.7%) teeth were lost as a result of caries, 19 (0.6%) were lost because of trauma and periodontal disease contributed to loss of 3,061 (98.7%) teeth. Mandibular teeth exhibited a higher rate of retention than maxillary teeth. The percentage of elderly individuals with tooth loss increased with age.
Conclusion: The study highlights the high life expectancy of a tooth among the elderly in SELGA. Despite the different cause of tooth loss in this area, in comparison with developed countries, the pattern of tooth retention appeared similar.