Dental health differences by social class in home-dwelling seniors of Barcelona, Spain.
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.
Pizarro
Vladimir
V
Health Services Research Unit, Institut Municipal d'Investigació Mèdica (IMIM-IMAS), 08003 Barcelona, Spain.
Ferrer
Montserrat
M
Domingo-Salvany
Antonia
A
Benach
Joan
J
Borrell
Carme
C
Puigvert
Josep
J
Alonso
Jordi
J
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