title: Oral complaints and utilization of dental services in relation to general health factors in a 88-year-old Swedish population.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cariology, Göteborg University, Sweden.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lundgren
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Osterberg
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Emilson
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Steen
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016321:Dental Care for Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003752:Dental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology