Dental caries experience among the elderly population in South East local government area in Ibadan, Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the caries experience of the elderly people in South East Local Government Area (S.E.L.G.A) in Ibadan.

SUBJECTS AND

METHODS

A randomly selected sample of 690 elderly people from 23 wards in S.E.L.G.A were examined by two trained and calibrated examiners according to WHO criteria.

RESULTS

Majority of them (85.5%) had no caries experience. Their mean DMFT was 0.46. More teeth in the mandible (160) than the maxilla were affected by caries or treated for caries. Their MNI was 25.5% and RI was 21%.

CONCLUSION

The elderly in S.E.L.G.A have low caries experience and very high-unmet dental health needs.