Foiles Sifuentes AM, Castaneda-Avila MA, Lapane KL. The relationship of aging, complete tooth loss, and having a dental visit in the last 12 months.
Clin Exp Dent Res 2020;
6:550-557. [PMID:
32737945 PMCID:
PMC7545228 DOI:
10.1002/cre2.309]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Revised: 06/13/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the extent to which dental health care visits in the past year differed among older adults with and without edentulism.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
We conducted a cross-sectional study using the 2017 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey among participants aged ≥50 years (n = 10,480, weighted = 112,116,641). Two self-reported outcome variables were used: loss of all teeth from upper and lower jaws (yes/no) and dental visit in the last 12 months (yes/no). Logistic models were used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).
RESULTS
Overall, 11.4% of the non-institutionalized U.S. population aged ≥50 years were edentulous; the prevalence was higher in those with advanced age. Adherence to annual oral health visits was 16% among those with edentulism, 52% among those without. The prevalence of dental care visits in the past year was higher among those with advanced age without edentulism, but for those with edentulism, the odds of visiting a dental care provider was lower in all age groups compared to those 50-59 years ((60-69 years): aOR: 0.58, CI:0.36-0.95; (70-79 years): aOR: 0.51, CI: 0.30-0.88; (≥ 80 years): aOR: 0.45, CI: 0.26-0.80)).
CONCLUSION
Although the prevalence of edentulism was higher in those with advanced age, oral health visits during the last 12 months were less frequent in older adults with edentulism. Interventions to improve adherence to dental care recommendations in the growing aging population are warranted.
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