Increasing population, limited dental insurance, but increasing use of services.
During the careers of many current and soon-to-be dental practitioners, one-in-five residents of the U.S. will be 65-plus years of age. Although the current population of seniors has limited dental insurance coverage, older Americans are increasing their use of services. Demographic variations are reviewed in terms of the need for services, dental visit patterns and expenditures for services. A challenge is presented to prepare practitioners for the care of this burgeoning population.
Waldman
H Barry
HB
Department of General Dentistry, Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine, Stony Brook, NY, USA. hwaldman@notes.cc.sunysb.edu
Truhlar
Mary Rose
MR
D000368:Aged; D016321:Dental Care for Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005850:Geriatric Dentistry / Q000193:education; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019456:Health Transition; D006801:Humans; D007347:Insurance, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce