Dental service use by older people living in long-term care facilities.

Since 1980, a mobile program has delivered dental care to 14 different long-term care facilities that care for frail and functionally dependent older persons. These facilities lie within a 60-mile radius of the University of Iowa College of Dentistry. This paper reports comparisons between characteristics of users versus nonusers of dental care in the program. Of the 853 residents in the long-term care facility who were screened, it was determined that 66% would benefit from some type of dental care. When the residents and their families were approached for treatment permission, 48% of those recommended permitted treatment; treatment was completed on 38% of those persons recommended for treatment. No differences were observed in the distribution or diagnoses of major medical problems for the users versus nonusers of care. Recommended treatment was similar for users and nonusers in nursing homes. The majority of nonusers refused treatment because they or their families did not perceive a need for dental care.