In order to evaluate general and local contraindications for implantation for 65-yr-old subjects from a medium-sized Finnish city, 431 such persons were examined anamnestically and by means of panoramic radiographs. The population represents 61% of the total age group in the city (born in 1923). It was shown that several degrees of cardiac problems and increased blood pressure followed by pulmonary diseases and diabetes were the most commonly encountered relative contraindications for implantation. Eleven percent of the patients said that they smoked regularly and the bone quality was estimated to be less suitable for implantation in 21% of the cases. Implantation was evaluated according to the Bonefit system (implant lengths between 6 and 16 mm) in 10 regions in the maxilla and 6 regions in the mandible and was shown to be possible in 38% of the regions in the partially edentulous maxillae and 50% of those in the partially edentulous mandibles, the corresponding figures for the edentulous jaws were 55% in the maxilla and 61% in the mandible.