Rising concern over tooth erosion in Finland

Dental Tribune International

Tue. 21 January 2025

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KUOPIO, Finland: Although oral health is a critical component of overall well-being, it often remains overlooked in public health. Seeking to gain valuable insights into health, well-being and service utilisation in Finland, including data on the state of adults’ oral health, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare recently conducted the Healthy Finland Survey. The findings highlighted the widespread prevalence of tooth erosion, caries and periodontal disease, indicating the urgent need for preventive measures and early interventions to combat growing oral health concerns. This was the first extensive survey of erosion in the country.

Conducted between 2022 and 2023, the Healthy Finland Survey collected data through questionnaires and health examinations across mainland Finland and Åland. The oral care component, completed in 2023, included clinical examinations and a specialised questionnaire exploring perceived oral health, dental anxiety and use of oral health services, among other topics. Through these, the researchers gathered data on the number and condition of participants’ teeth, periodontal attachment, the presence of removable dentures, and the number of decayed and restored teeth. Among those adults invited, 1,798 participated in the clinical examination, and 1,669 answered the oral care survey.

On average, the survey found that adults under the age of 65 with natural teeth retained more than 25 teeth. In contrast, edentulism was most prevalent among individuals aged 75 and older, both men and women having an average of fewer than 20 teeth. The results indicated that the proportion of completely edentulous individuals is decreasing.

The survey also indicated that oral home hygiene has improved, especially among men, but women still brush their teeth more often than men. It found that 80% of women and 57% of men brushed their teeth at least twice a day.

The findings showed that 71% of the respondents had minor tooth erosion, and 17% had at least moderate tooth erosion. Minor erosion was prevalent even among the youngest age group, affecting 53% of women and 78% of men aged 20–34. The results showed that erosive tooth wear is a potential risk to dental health in all age groups in Finland.

The survey also revealed that 74% of adults had at least one gingival pocket of ≥ 4 mm in depth, and 19% had at least one tooth with a pocket of ≥ 6 mm in depth. Loss of periodontal attachment was thus found to be common in all age groups.

The results showed that 40% of adults had at least one tooth affected by caries. The average number of restored teeth in adults was ten, and the average number of amalgam-filled teeth was 2.5. Younger age groups had, on average, more teeth and fewer decayed, restored and amalgam-filled teeth than older age groups.

Dental anxiety is a significant barrier to timely oral health examinations and treatment in Finland. The Healthy Finland Survey found that up to 40% of adults consider visiting the dentist to be at least somewhat scary. The proportion of people who fear dental treatment has remained unchanged compared with previous surveys, the researchers said. Surprisingly, fear of dental treatment was more common among women than men.

In summary, while oral health challenges persist across all age groups, older individuals show a greater need for dental care, reflected in missing teeth, their replacement with removable dentures, a large number of restored teeth and poorer condition of the supporting tissue. The findings emphasise the importance of targeted prevention and treatment strategies to address age-related dental issues.