[Incidence and estimated need for complete dentures in elderly inhabitants in nursing homes and long-term patients in hospital geriatric units in Reykjavik in 1984].

In 1984 prevalence and objective and subjective need for complete dentures was investigated in a random sample of 400 old-age pensioners, 67 years and older, who were either inmates of old people's residential or nursing homes or long term patients in geriatric departments of the hospitals in Reykjavík. Complete upper and lower dentures were worn by 80.5% of the inmates, a complete maxillary denture alone by 7.5% and a complete mandibular denture alone by 0.5%. Prevalence of denture wearing was significantly higher in females than males and higher in those who, before admission to the institutions, lived in Reykjavík or other towns and villages rather than in inmates coming from rural districts. The difference between estimated objective (58%) and subjective (19.2%) need for complete dentures was great.