초록
Korean society is experiencing a very rapid change in population aging. Oral diseases, including dental caries and periodontal disease, are usually cumulative and make oral health worse with age. Preventing tooth loss through the prevention and treatment of caries and periodontal diseases are essential for retaining oral function later in life. This study aimed to identify the trend in oral health status among elderlies over 65 years old, using major oral health indicators of Health Plan 2020. The fifth, sixth, and seventh Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES V, VI, VII) were used in the present study to estimate the number of remaining natural teeth, the rate of 20 or more natural teeth, the rate of chewing difficulty, and the rate of oral health check-up of elderly. The number of remaining natural teeth increased from 15.6 in 2010 to 17.1 in 2015, and the rate of 20 or more natural teeth also increased from 45.8% in 2010 to 53.7% in 2015. The rate of chewing difficulty was similar but declined a little from 44.3% in 2010 to 42.9% in 2017. Finally, the rate of oral health check-ups of the elderly increased significantly from 12.2% in 2010 to 21.1% in 2017.