Older Australian women's use of dentists: a longitudinal analysis over 6 years.
OBJECTIVE
To identify factors associated with dentist consultation by older Australian women.


METHODS
Participants from the older cohort of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health which originally involved 12 432 older women.


RESULTS
The percentage of women who consulted a dentist in the years 1999, 2002 and 2005 were 35%, 36% and 37%, respectively. Women were more likely to consult with a dentist if they lived in urban areas (RR = 1.26; 95% CI: 1.21, 1.32), were non-smokers (RR = 1.38; 95% CI: 1.21, 157), did not have diabetes (RR = 1.16; 95% CI: 1.08, 1.25), had better physical health (RR = 1.02 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.02). Women were less likely to consult with a dentist if they found it difficult to live on their income (RR = 0.90; 95% CI: 085, 0.95).


CONCLUSIONS
Access to dentists, cost of consultations and poor health appear to be significant factors influencing visits to a dentist by older Australian women.
Sibbritt
David W
DW
School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia. david.sibbritt@newcastle.edu.au
Byles
Julie E
JE
Tavener
Meredith A
MA
D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009909:Oral Health; D011788:Quality of Life; D012424:Rural Population; D014505:Urban Population