Periodontal conditions were studied in 42 dentate elderly subjects (mean age, 84.1 ± 8.0 years). None of them had received recent dental care or was routinely seen by a dentist. Overall, they had 20.2 ± 7.1 teeth (range, 6–32). The CPITN was used to assess periodontal status. Twenty‐nine percent of all sextants were either edentulous or had only one remaining tooth. The overall oral hygiene was poor (Plaque Index, 1.8 ± 0.5) and gingival inflammation severe (Gingival Index, 1.9 ± 0.8). Significant correlations were found between: Gingival and Plaque Indices (r = 0.82, p<0.001), and pocket depth and Gingival Index (r = 0.38, p<0.05). Plaque Index was negatively correlated to the number of remaining teeth (r = 0.43, p<0.050). Age and remaining teeth were negatively correlated (r = 0.38, p<0.05). Thirty percent of the posterior sextants had a CPITN score of “4,” and 75% of the posterior sextants had at least one site with a pocket depth 4 mm. Only 2.9% of all sites demonstrated pocket depth 6 mm and these sites were distributed among 67% of the subjects. The CPITN index was correlated to the mean pocket depth for the various sextants, the correlation varying between r = 0.67, p<0.001 (upper right posterior) and 0.36, p<0.05 (upper left posterior) sextants. The total manpower estimated to complete initial therapy for 42 patients was approximately 63 hours by a dentist and 85 hours by a denta