Priorities for oral health goals in a sample of older adults.

Abstract

This study was conducted to identify oral health factors that are important to people who are elderly. By identifying factors valued by patients who are older, dental professionals can gain better insights into the preferences and priorities that patients use in making dental treatment decisions. To determine which factors are important to this population, we compiled a list of oral health goals identified through a literature review. To supplement this initial list, we undertook line-by-line (open) coding of transcripts of two sets of semi-structured interviews. The first set of interviews explored the decision of older adults to seek treatment in response tooth pain. The second set of interviews elicited anticipated responses to three scenarios involving extensive restoration and one scenario involving extraction and prosthetic replacement among older patients at a dental school.