Oral health concerns of an elderly population in England
- 1 April 1988
- journal article
- Published by Wiley in Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology
- Vol. 16 (2), 72-74
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0528.1988.tb01846.x
Abstract
A group of 437 subjects from a random sample of 737 persons, over 75 yr of age and living independently in the southwest of England, were interviewed about their oral health concerns and desires for dental treatment. Most of the subjects could have received dental treatment without unusual risk, although a third of the sample said they could not move around or attend a dentist without assistance. A dentist had visited the homes of only 2% of the sample, while 22% expressed a desire for this service. Nearly half of those interviewed complained of a mouth problem and a third were experiencing oral pain, yet the majority had not been to a dentist for at least 10 yr, and had no wish to see a dentist. Many of the subjects, even among those with complaints, said they had not visited a dentist recently because they had nothing wrong, while only a small proportion (3%) of the sample identified fear, expense or transport as a barrier to dental treatment. The results indicate that elderly people do not have many oral health concerns or expectations.Keywords
This publication has 7 references indexed in Scilit:
- Dental attendance of elderly people in East AngliaBritish Dental Journal, 1985
- The prevalence of edentulism and diseases related to dentures-a literature reviewJournal of Oral Rehabilitation, 1985
- Distributive effects of dental programs for old-age pensioners in NorwayCommunity Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology, 1985
- Dental demands of elderly people living at home in HertfordshireBritish Dental Journal, 1984
- Causal analysis on the use of dental services among old-age pensioners in NorwayCommunity Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology, 1982
- Dental treatment needs and demands of an elderly population in EnglandCommunity Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology, 1980
- Dental demands of old people in HampshireBritish Dental Journal, 1979