Dental visits among older U.S. adults, 1999: the roles of dentition status and cost.

BACKGROUND: The proportion of older adults in the United States will continue to grow during the next few decades. Aging populations will bring unique challenges to dentistry. Understanding dental visit patterns will help the profession become prepared.
METHODS: The authors used data from the 1999 National Health Interview Survey to describe dental visit patterns among adults aged 55 years or older. Outcome variables included presence of a dental visit in the previous year, reasons for the last dental visit and reasons for not having had a dental visit. Descriptor variables included age, sex, race/ethnicity, poverty status, region, private dental insurance status and dentition status.
RESULTS: Approximately 71 percent of dentate and 20 percent of edentulous adults had had a dental visit in the previous year. Among dentate adults, age, sex, race/ ethnicity, poverty status, region and dental insurance were associated with visits. Among edentulous adults, age, poverty status and dental insurance were associated with visits. Among all older adults, the main reason for a visit was preventive/ diagnostic. Edentulous adults also were likely to visit for problems. The majority of adults who had not had a dental visit did not recognize a need for one; however, dentate adults were more likely to recognize a need than were edentulous adults. For those who recognized a need but did not visit a dentist, cost was a prevalent barrier.
CONCLUSIONS: Among those who visited a dentist, most went for a diagnostic/preventive procedure. Among those who did not visit a dentist, most did not recognize a need to do so. Cost remains a serious barrier. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Some older adults recognize a need to visit a dentist, whereas others (particularly the edentulous) do not. As more adults recognize their oral health care needs, cost may prevent some from seeking care.