title: Tooth loss and dental caries in community-dwelling older adults in northern Manhattan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine tooth loss and dental caries by sociodemographic characteristics from community-based oral health examinations conducted by dentists in northern Manhattan.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The ElderSmile programme of the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine serves older adults with varying functional capacities across settings. This report is focused on relatively mobile, socially engaged participants who live in the impoverished communities of Harlem and Washington Heights/Inwood in northern Manhattan, New York City.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-reported sociodemographic characteristics and health and health care information were provided by community-dwelling ElderSmile participants aged 65 years and older who took part in community-based oral health education and completed a screening questionnaire. Oral health examinations were conducted by trained dentists in partnering prevention centres among ElderSmile participants who agreed to be clinically screened (90.8%).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The dental caries experience of ElderSmile participants varied significantly by sociodemographic predictors and smoking history. After adjustment in a multivariable logistic regression model, older age, non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic race/ethnicity, and a history of current or former smoking were important predictors of edentulism.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Provision of oral health screenings in community-based settings may result in opportunities to intervene before oral disease is severe, leading to improved oral health for older adults.
authors: Department of Epidemiology and Health Promotion, New York University College of Dentistry, New York, NY 10003-1402, USA. men6@nyu.edu
authors: Mary E
authors: ME
authors: Northridge
authors: Frances V
authors: FV
authors: Ue
authors: Luisa N
authors: LN
authors: Borrell
authors: Leydis D
authors: LD
authors: De La Cruz
authors: Bibhas
authors: B
authors: Chakraborty
authors: Stephanie
authors: S
authors: Bodnar
authors: Stephen
authors: S
authors: Marshall
authors: Ira B
authors: IB
authors: Lamster
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007347:Insurance, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D009066:Mouth, Edentulous / Q000453:epidemiology; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D009909:Oral Health; D012649:Self Concept; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000453:epidemiology*