Access to dental care among older adults in the United States.
Oral health is essential to an older adult's general health and well-being. Yet, many older adults are not regular users of dental services and may experience significant barriers to receiving necessary dental care. This literature review summarizes national trends in access to dental care and dental service utilization by older adults in the United States. Issues related to geriatric dentistry and concerns about access to dental care include the increasing diversity of the older adult population, concerns about the degree to which the dental workforce is prepared to meet the oral health needs of older patients, and the adequacy of the future workforce, including concern about training opportunities in gerontology and geriatrics for dental and allied dental practitioners.
Dolan
Teresa A
TA
University of Florida College of Dentistry, 1600 SW Archer Rd., D 4-6B, P.O. Box 100405, Gainesville, FL 32610-0405, USA. tdolan@dental.ufl.edu
Atchison
Kathryn
K
Huynh
Tri N
TN
D000368:Aged; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D016321:Dental Care for Aged / Q000191:economics / Q000639:trends*; D003752:Dental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005850:Geriatric Dentistry / Q000193:education; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D018577:Homebound Persons; D006801:Humans; D007347:Insurance, Dental / Q000639:trends; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce