The impact of the demographics of aging and the edentulous condition on dental care services

Over the next 20 years, the number of people aged 65 years and older is expected to increase substantially in both Canada and the United States. Moreover, advances in dental treatment are resulting in reduced levels of the edentulous condition, such that there will be more people in need of various dental services. The purpose of this study was to determine what effect the increase in the overall population of the United States and Canada, and specific cohorts such as the senior citizen population, would have on the decrease in the levels of the edentulous condition. Through the use of population data obtained through Statistics Canada and the U.S. Census Bureau, it was determined that there will be 25.2% more Americans and 36.5% Canadians who are 65 years of age and over. Furthermore, an algorithm was developed using the United States national tooth loss data, which determined the percentage of people who would be edentulous at 75 years of age and older. The tooth retention rate improves with the younger age cohorts. The 50- to 54-year age group in the year 2000 will, on average, have 6.6 more teeth than the current elderly when they are 75 years of age and older. The percentage of the edentulous condition for the 75-plus age group will decrease by about 50% over the 35-year period from 1990 to 2025. The clinical significance of this trend means that there will be more people with more teeth in need of various dental treatments. (J Prosthet Dent 1998;79:56-9.)