EXPLANATORY MODELS FOR TOTAL EDENTULOUSNESS, PRESENCE OF REMOVABLE DENTURES, AND COMPLETE DENTAL ARCHES IN A SWEDISH POPULATION

On the basis of data from a questionnaire study of 3000 inhabitants of Orebro County, Sweden. aged 45-69 years, the relative importance of various socioeconomic factors for dental conditions were analyzed in stepwise logistic regression models. Two different patterns were found: one in relation to the best dental condition (complete dental arches), another in relation to the poorest conditions (total edentulousness and presence of removable dentures). Next to age, education and income showed the highest predictive values in relation to the presence of removable dentures and total edentulousness. Place of residence and gender seemed to be of less importance than earlier. In relation to complete dental arches, there were lower values for most variables. One of only four significant variables was the attitude variable 'importance of good dental appearance'. The results may indicate the development of a new pattern of influences on dental conditions, mainly based on education and attitudes.