title: Dental health differences by social class in home-dwelling seniors of Barcelona, Spain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to assess dental health differences by social class in home-dwelling seniors in Spain.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional household survey of a cohort of senior residents in Barcelona (Spain) was undertaken. Of 891 survivors (72 years or older), 561 (62.9%) oral examinations were completed according to the DMF Index (Decayed, Missing and Filled teeth).
  
  
  RESULTS
  42% of participants were edentate. The individuals of social class IV-V were more likely to be edentate, and to have fewer than 15 teeth compared to those in social class I-II. The DMF Index in dentate individuals (Adjusted mean=16.4) also showed significantly worse dental health for lower social classes (p = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study indicate a different level of utilization of dental health services and dental health by social class in home-dwelling seniors. Further research is needed to understand the barriers of access and social inequality.
authors.affiliation: Health Services Research Unit, Institut Municipal d'Investigació Mèdica (IMIM-IMAS), 08003 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pizarro
authors.forename: Montserrat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferrer
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Domingo-Salvany
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Benach
authors.forename: Carme
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Borrell
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Puigvert
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alonso
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D016321:Dental Care for Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007576:Jaw, Edentulous, Partially / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009066:Mouth, Edentulous / Q000453:epidemiology; D009909:Oral Health; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014076:Tooth Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000453:epidemiology