Annual Dental Care Research Articles

Trends in dental care utilisation among the elderly using longitudinal data from 14 European countries: A multilevel analysis.

The use of dental care among older people is low compared to other forms of health care, with significant health consequences. However, the evidence on the extent to which countries' welfare systems and socio-economic factors influence the uptake of dental care by older people is limited. This study aimed to describe trends of dental care utilisation, and to compare use of dental care with other types of healthcare services among the elderly, considering different socio-economic factors and welfare systems in European countries. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was performed using longitudinal data from four waves (between Wave 5 and 8) of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe database, with a follow-up period of 7 years. The study sample included 20,803 respondents aged 50 years or older from 14 European countries. The annual dental care attendance was the highest in Scandinavian countries (85.7%), however, improving trends of dental attendance was recognized in Southern and Bismarckian countries (p<0.001). The difference in use of dental care services between socio-economic groups was expanding over time regarding low- and high-income level and residential area. A more marked difference was observed between social groups in dental care utilisation compared to other forms of care. Income level and unemployed status had significant effect on forgoing dental care due to cost and unavailability. The observed differences between socioeconomic groups may highlight the health consequences of the different organization and financing of dental care. The elderly population could benefit from adopting policies aiming to reduce the financial barriers to dental care usage, especially in Southern and Eastern European countries.

Women's HIV disclosure to the dentist: Does frequent contact matter?

Research has shown inconsistent patterns of patients' HIV serostatus disclosure to their dentists. Common barriers to disclosure have included confidentiality concerns, fear of treatment refusal, and discrimination. This study evaluated the prevalence of HIV serostatus disclosure to the dentist, whether the frequency of dental care utilization is associated with disclosure, and reasons for nondisclosure among women living with HIV. We administered a cross-sectional oral health survey to 1,526 women living with HIV in the Women's Interagency HIV Study including questions regarding HIV serostatus disclosure to dentists. Logistic regression models were used to analyze the association between dental care utilization (at least annually versus less than annually) and HIV serostatus disclosure to dentists. Overall, 83 percent of women reported that they disclosed their HIV serostatus to their dentist. The most common reasons for nondisclosure were: a) the dentist did not ask, b) believing that the dentist did not need to know, and c) not having a consistent dentist. In the multivariable logistic regression model, at least annual dental care utilization, compared to less than annual, led to a 59 percent reduction in the odds of HIV nondisclosure to the dentist. Study findings highlight that dentists who see their patients infrequently should consider methods for overcoming barriers to HIV nondisclosure and the possibility that their patient's HIV serostatus is undisclosed. Educating women living with HIV about how disclosure to dentists is a critical component of their dental assessment and treatment, and how preventive dental treatment can improve overall health outcomes, is important.

Dental insurance, dental care utilization, and perceived unmet dental needs in women living with HIV: Results from the Women's Interagency HIV Study.

Dental care is the most commonly cited unmet health-care service due to cost. Previous research has highlighted the unmet dental needs of people living with HIV (PLWH). Understanding associations among dental insurance availability, dental care utilization, and the presence of unmet dental needs among PLWH is a public health priority. Oral health surveys were collected cross-sectionally (April-October 2016) among 1,442 women living with HIV (WLWH) in the Women's Interagency HIV Study. Logistic regression models were used to analyze the association between having versus not having dental insurance by type (Ryan White, private, Medicaid/Medicare) and two primary outcomes: a) typical frequency of dental visits (at least annually, less than annually) and b) reporting an unmet dental need in the past 6 months. All dental insurance types were associated with higher odds of receiving annual dental care and, for those with either Medicare/Medicaid or private insurance, lower odds of having an unmet dental need. When WLWH were asked to describe their oral health, poor self-reported condition was associated with both an unmet dental need (odds ratio [OR]: 4.52, 95 percent Confidence Interval [CI] [3.29-6.20]) and lower odds of annual dental care utilization (OR: 0.44, 95 percent CI [0.34-0.57]). Self-reported depressive symptom burden was also linked to having an unmet dental need (OR: 2.10, 95 percent CI [1.46-3.01]). Dental insurance coverage increases dental care utilization and is associated with better oral health among WLWH. In the era of health-care reform, dental insurance coverage may be instrumental for enhancing treatment outcomes.

Oral health behaviour and social and health factors in university students from 26 low, middle and high income countries.

Poor oral health is still a major burden for populations throughout the world, particularly in developing countries. The aim of this study was investigate oral health behaviour (tooth brushing and dental attendance) and associated factors in low, middle and high income countries. Using anonymous questionnaires, data were collected from 19,560 undergraduate university students (mean age 20.8, SD = 2.8) from 27 universities in 26 countries across Asia, Africa and the Americas. Results indicate that 67.2% of students reported to brush their teeth twice or more times a day, 28.8% about once a day and 4.0% never. Regarding dental check-up visit, 16.3% reported twice a year, 25.6% once a year, 33.9% rarely and 24.3% never. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, being a male, coming from a wealthy or quite well off family background, living in low income or lower middle income, weak beliefs in the importance of regular tooth brushing, depression and PTSD symptoms, tobacco use and frequent gambling, low physical activity, and low daily meal and snacks frequency were associated with inadequate tooth brushing (<twice daily). Further, being a male, older age, coming from a not well off or poor family background, living in low income or lower middle income, weak beliefs in the importance of regular tooth brushing, PTSD symptoms, illicit drug use, low physical activity, and low daily snacks frequency, skipping breakfast and inadequate fruit and vegetables consumption were associated with less than one annual dental care visit. Oral health behaviour among the students was found to be low. Various risk factors identified can be used to guide interventions to improve oral health behaviour among university students.

Tooth Loss and Periodontitis in Older Individuals: Results From the Swedish National Study on Aging and Care

Due to the increasing number of older people, there is a need for studies focused on this population. The aims of the present study are to assess oral and systemic conditions in individuals aged 60 to 95 years with access to dental insurance. Probing depths (PDs), tooth loss, alveolar bone levels, and systemic health were studied among a representative cohort of older individuals. A total of 1,147 individuals in young-old (aged 60 or 67 years), old (aged 72 or 78 years), and old-old (aged ≥81 years) age groups were enrolled, including 200 individuals who were edentulous, in this study. Annual dental care was received by 82% of dentate individuals. Systemic diseases were common (diabetes: 5.8%; cardiovascular diseases: 20.7%; obesity: 71.2%; elevated C-reactive protein [CRP]: 98.4%). Serum CRP values were unrelated to periodontal conditions. Rates of periodontitis, defined as ≥30% of sites with a distance from cemento-enamel junction to bone of ≥5 mm, were 11.2% in women in the young-old age group and 44.9% in men in the old-old age group. Individuals in older age groups had a higher likelihood of periodontitis defined by bone loss and cutoff levels of PD ≥5 mm (odds ratio: 1.8; 95% confidence interval: 1.2 to 2.5; P <0.01). A total of 7% of individuals in the old-old age group had ≥20 teeth and no periodontitis. Systemic diseases, dental use, or smoking were not explanatory, whereas age and sex were explanatory for periodontitis. The prevalence of periodontitis increased with age. Sex seems to be the dominant explanatory factor for periodontitis in older individuals. Despite frequent dental visits, overall oral health in the oldest age cohort was poor.

The health care access and utilization of homeschooled children in the United States

Although the population of homeschooled children in the United States is large and growing, little is known about their access to and utilization of preventive health care services. This paper compares the health care access and utilization of homeschooled children and public school children in the United States using data from the nationally-representative 2007 National Survey of Children's Health. Using logistic regression models, this study finds that homeschooled children were significantly less likely than public school children to have access to a medical home, to visit a health care professional annually, and to receive the Human Papillomavirus vaccine. They were not statistically less likely to have health insurance, to receive annual dental care, or to receive Tetanus or Meningitis vaccinations. This research suggests that public health practitioners, medical providers, researchers, and educators should be attentive to the health care needs of homeschooled children.

Dental Care and Associated Factors Among Older Adults With Schizophrenia

Few data are available concerning dental care in older adults with schizophrenia. The authors examined the utilization of dental care and factors related to dental treatment in this population. The sample consisted of 198 community-dwelling participants 55 years and older with schizophrenia and a community comparison group of 113 participants. The authors adapted a model of illness behavior in later life as the basis for selection of 18 predictor variables of annual dental care visits. The study results showed no significant differences between the schizophrenia and community comparison groups with regard to the percentage of participants (28 and 31 percent, respectively) reporting having had at least two dental visits in the previous year or one dental visit (48 and 54 percent, respectively). However, the results showed significant differences in the percentage of participants in the schizophrenia and community comparison groups who stated that they experienced problems with their teeth or dentures (41 and 23 percent, respectively). When examining participants in the schizophrenia group separately, the authors found four variables that were significantly associated with having had at least one dental visit: financial well-being (odds ratio [OR] = 1.12), better executive cognitive functioning (OR = 1.11), fewer perceived problems with teeth or dentures (OR = 0.33) and fewer oral dyskinesias (OR = 0.86). Most older adults with schizophrenia in this study did not receive at least two dental visits per year, although their frequency of care was no worse than that of their age-matched peers. Psychiatric assessments should include questions about dental care. The greatest improvement in dental care for such patients likely is to occur by targeting people who report having more problems with their teeth, including oral dyskinesias; those who have greater cognitive impairments, especially in executive functioning; and those who have diminished financial resources.

Relationships between Diabetes and Medical and Dental Care Costs: Findings from a Worksite Cohort Study in Japan

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationships between diabetes and medical and dental care costs from a 5-yr prospective observation of Japanese workers. The data were derived from health and dental examinations and health insurance claims of 4,086 workers aged 40-54 yr. At baseline, the subjects were assigned to four categories: known diabetes; undiagnosed diabetes; impaired fasting glucose (IFG); and non-diabetic. The differences in health care costs among the non-diabetics, IFG and undiagnosed diabetes groups were not seen at baseline, but the costs incurred by the subjects with undiagnosed diabetes substantially increased thereafter. Over 5 yr of the study period, compared with the non-diabetic group, subjects with known diabetes incurred 3.9- and 2.9-fold higher annual inpatient and outpatient costs, respectively, while subjects in the undiagnosed diabetes group incurred 3.0- and 1.6-fold higher costs, respectively. There were no significant associations between annual dental care costs and diabetic status. The excess costs of medical care among subjects with diabetes were attributable to diabetes itself, heart disease and cerebrovascular disease, but not cancer. Among middle-aged workers, diabetics incurred significantly greater medical care costs than non-diabetics, whereas IFG was not associated with higher costs.

Changes in caries diagnostic criteria over time related to the insertion of fillings A comparative study

The attitude toward the need for restorative treatment of carious approximal tooth surfaces changed gradually during the 1970s. The depth of the carious lesions and an assessment of their progression rate was recommended to be the basis for decisions of whether preventive measures or restorative therapy should be applied. The aim of this study was to examine whether this new view on caries therapy had influenced the treatment of posterior approximal surfaces and the choice of caries diagnostic criteria in studies on changes in caries prevalence over the. The material comprised posterior bitewing radiographs and records from the annual dental care of two groups of teenagers, born in 1964 and 1971, respectively. By means of an index system every approximal surface from the distal surfaces of the first premolars to the mesial surfaces of the second molars was given a caries diagnostic score on the basis of the depth of the lesions. The fillings inserted during the same treatment period as the radiographs had been taken were then grouped on the basis of the scores. At 13 years of age the percentage of fillings inserted in teeth with carious lesions extending into the outer and those extending into the inner half of the enamel was significantly higher in children born in 1964 than in those born in 1971. This was also the case with fillings inserted at 16 years of age in teeth with lesions extending into the inner half of the enamel. On the basis of these results it was concluded that comparisons between the two groups with regard to approximal caries prevalence has to be based on criteria that cover both filling and initial and frank carious lesions. This seems to have a general bearing on comparisons between groups of the same age but with different years of birth.

Direct ratings of acceptance of dental treatment in Swedish children.

The aim of the present study was to bring forward data of acceptance of dental treatment for 3-16-yr-old children in a population with good dental health and annual dental care, and to evaluate the influence on acceptance of age, sex, residential area, and previous experience and present need of dental treatment. The material consisted of 2773 children. Direct ratings of behavior were made at each of 10 different treatment steps passed during dental appointments. The majority of children needed no more than one dental visit and 79% showed positive acceptance at all steps of treatment passed during dental visits. Eight percent of all children sometimes reacted in such a way that treatment could not be carried out without restraint or undue delay. Dental fear was diagnosed in 3% of all children.