Abstract
BackgroundRoutine dental examinations are important for early diagnosis and treatment of dental problems among older adults in order to improve their quality of life and avoid costly future treatments. In Israel, a significant percentage of adults do not seek dental care.MethodsThe study is based on a 2017 telephone survey conducted among people aged 50–75 from different population groups in Israel to examine their health beliefs and attitudes toward dental treatments.ResultsThe results show that among older adults the decision to undergo routine dental checkups is affected by socio-demographic status and health beliefs regarding dental health. Lower age, higher income levels, and Jewish religion predicted higher chances of frequent checkups. In addition, those who saw the benefits of routine checkups, believed that dentists were readily available, and had higher levels of health motivation were more likely to seek out routine dental care.ConclusionsAccording to the recent dental reform in Israel, people aged 75 and over are eligible for subsidized dental treatments. To enhance the frequency of dental checkups among older adults, it is recommended to provide this subsidized coverage for adults under age 75. In addition, planning dental health services for individuals in this age group should be based upon their accepted beliefs and values. Moreover, systematic health education through the media and health maintenance organizations should specifically target this population group to encourage them to undergo dental checkups more frequently.
Highlights
Routine dental examinations are important for early diagnosis and treatment of dental problems among older adults in order to improve their quality of life and avoid costly future treatments
The frequency of dental checkups was significantly higher among those who have a higher degree of trust in dentists, while the intention to undergo checkups was significantly higher among those who perceived they were more susceptible to dental problems
The results of the current research with respect to people aged 50–75 underscore the need to implement this dental reform in Israel for those younger than 75, since the majority of those in this age group do not get the necessary dental checkups
Summary
Routine dental examinations are important for early diagnosis and treatment of dental problems among older adults in order to improve their quality of life and avoid costly future treatments. Routine oral examinations and dental treatment for the older adult population play an important role in preventing health issues, improving quality of life, and reducing healthcare system costs [1, 2]. The demographic revolution reflected in the growing numbers of older adults in the general population poses new challenges for dental health professionals regarding how to provide appropriate and affordable oral care [3]. In February 2019, Israel instituted a dental care reform for older adults According to this reform, people aged 75 and older are eligible for one periodic dental checkup per year and one dental
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