Open AccessBurden of Oral Disease Among Older Adults and Implications for Public Health Priorities
Author(s) -
Susan Griffin,
Judith A. Jones,
Diane Brunson,
Paul M. Griffin,
William D. Bailey
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
american journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.284
H-Index - 264
eISSN - 1541-0048
pISSN - 0090-0036
DOI - 10.2105/ajph.2011.300362
Subject(s) - medicine , public health , ethnic group , disease , oral health , quality of life (healthcare) , gerontology , health care , environmental health , medline , family medicine , nursing , pathology , sociology , anthropology , political science , law , economics , economic growth
Dental disease is largely preventable. Many older adults, however, experience poor oral health. National data for older adults show racial/ethnic and income disparities in untreated dental disease and oral health-related quality of life. Persons reporting poor versus good health also report lower oral health-related quality of life. On the basis of these findings, suggested public health priorities include better integrating oral health into medical care, implementing community programs to promote healthy behaviors and improve access to preventive services, developing a comprehensive strategy to address the oral health needs of the homebound and long-term-care residents, and assessing the feasibility of ensuring a safety net that covers preventive and basic restorative services to eliminate pain and infection.