Objective: The study aimed to compare self-perceived oral health and orofacial appearance in three different cohorts of 60-year-old individuals. Method: A cross-sectional design, based on data obtained from a questionnaire used in the Swedish National Study of Aging and Care. The sample comprised 478 individuals, from baseline, 2001-2003 (n = 191), 2007-2009 (n = 218) and 2014-2015 (n = 69). Comparisons were made within and between the cohorts, with bivariate analysis and Fisher's exact test. Statistical significance was considered at p < 0.05. Results: The result showed that a low number of the participants reported self-perceived problems with oral health. Of the problems reported, a higher proportion in cohort 2014-2015 (39.3%) experienced problems with bleeding gums. The experience of bleeding gums increased between the cohorts 2001-2003 and 2014-2015 (p = 0.040) and between 2007-2009 and 2014-2015 (p = 0.017). The prevalence of discomfort with sensitive teeth was experienced in 7%-32%. Twice as many women compared to men experienced discomfort in all cohorts (no significant differences between the cohorts). Satisfaction with dental appearance was experienced in 75%-84%. Twice as many women compared to men were dissatisfied with their dental appearance in 2001-2003 (p = 0.011) and with discoloured teeth (p = 0.020). No significant differences could be seen between the cohorts regarding discomfort with dental appearance or discoloured teeth. Conclusion: The 60-year-olds irrespective of birth cohort, perceived their oral health and orofacial appearance as satisfactory.

Objectives: To analyze whether self-perceived oral health and orofacial appearance change with increasing age. Methods: This longitudinal study is based on data from a questionnaire used in the Swedish National Study of Aging and Care. The sample comprises 160 participants 60 years of age at baseline 2001-2003. The same participants were re-examined at 66-, 72-, and 78 years of age. To analyze whether perceptions of oral health and orofacial appearance changed with increasing age, Cochran's Q test was conducted. Statistical significance was considered at p <= 0.05, and the calculated value Q must be equal to or greater than the critical chi-square value (Q >= 7.82). Significance values have been adjusted for the Bonferroni correction for multiple tests. Results: Self-perceived mouth dryness, both day (Q = 7.94) and night (Q = 23.41), increased over the 18-year follow-up. When divided by gender, significant differences were only seen for mouth dryness at nighttime. A decrease in sensitive teeth was perceived with increasing age, and an increase in self-perceived satisfaction with dental appearance, and a decrease in self-perceived problems with dental gaps between the ages of 60 and 78. These changes were, however, not statistically significant. Men experienced a higher proportion of discomfort with discolored teeth at age 78 than at 60 (Q = 9.09). Conclusions: Self-perceived oral health and orofacial appearance were relatively stable, with few changes over an 18-year follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore how people aged 65 years and older experience their orofacial appearance (OA).

METHOD: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 strategically recruited participants aged 65-79 years from the Swedish National Study on Aging and Care-Blekinge (SNAC-B) in Karlskrona. A semi-structured interview guide was developed, and the interviews were analysed using thematic analysis to identify patterns in the data.

RESULTS: The older adults' experience of their OA was represented in four themes: (i) you kind of have to like the situation as it is now-to accept orofacial appearance in its current state; (ii) an ageing orofacial appearance-a slow continuous downhill slope; (iii) looking good for others to fit the social norm; and (iv) keeping up orofacial appearance-seemingly without effort.

CONCLUSION: The older adults in this study had a dual perception in relation to their own OA. Although society often values a younger looking appearance, striving for a youthful appearance is seen negatively, which may potentially reflect the complexities of the perceptions of one's own ageing OA. Only those with dental issues found the impact of teeth on OA perception to be particularly significant.