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Aims: This study aims to evaluate the periodontal status and its changes among Japanese older adults over a 10‐year period. Methods and results: A total of 206 dentate older adults aged 70 years who completely participated in 10 years of oral examination were included. The community periodontal index (CPI) was used to assess the gingival and periodontal pocket status, while the loss of attachment (LA) scoring system was used to report the extensive LA. A higher score in CPI (Code 3 and Code 4) and more extensive attachment loss were found in a majority of participants. During follow‐up evaluation, mean number of sextants with CPI code 4 remained stable, while CPI code 3 significantly decreased particularly in male participants. Whereas, sextants without attachment loss significantly decreased on average. The mean number of missing sextants significantly increased from 1.1 to 1.9, and 5.8% of subjects had all sextants excluded in the follow‐up. Conclusion: This study indicated that majority of the older people experienced severe periodontal disease and this condition remained stable during 10‐year period. Additionally, the incidence of tooth loss increased as individuals aged. Regular oral care and maintenance are highly recommended for older population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]