Premium
Oral complaints and utilization of dental services in relation to general health factors in a 88‐year‐old Swedish population *
Author(s) -
Lundgren M.,
Österberg T.,
Emilson G.,
Steen B.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
gerodontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1741-2358
pISSN - 0734-0664
DOI - 10.1111/j.1741-2358.1995.tb00135.x
Subject(s) - medicine , loneliness , feeling , oral hygiene , oral health , population , family medicine , dentistry , gerontology , environmental health , psychiatry , psychology , social psychology
The aim of this study was to describe dental state, oral health problems, self‐assessed ability to perform oral hygiene and utilization of oral health services in a sample of 88‐year‐old people (n=374) and to relate these variables to functional ability, subjective health and drug consumption. The intention was also to Identify barriers to utilization of dental care in non‐institutionalized elderly people. The results of interviews showed that 46% of the subjects were dentate. Oral complaints were reported by 24% of the home living individuals. Poor health, medication and feelings of loneliness were factors associated with oral discomfort. Difficulties in performing oral hygiene activities were reported by 10% of the subjects and were correlated with functional impairments and feelings of loneliness. Utilization of dental services was correlated with dental state; 72% of the dentate and 8% of the edentulous subjects made regular dental visits. The main reason for not visiting a dentist was “no perceived need”. Independent of dental state, some factors were significantly correlated to low demand for dental services; these included feelings of loneliness, functional impairments and low school education.