To describe the general health, oral health status, and treatment needs of dependent older people living in Christchurch rest homes.
210 Grade 3 residents from seven randomly selected care facilities were examined for: dental/denture status, caries, periodontal disease, and oral cleanliness.
Age ranged from 65 to 103 with an average age of 84.6 years. The female-to-male ratio was 3:1. Thirty-two percent of residents were dentate (average 14 teeth). This figure was up from 16-19% one decade ago (p