Oral health concerns of an elderly population in England.

A group of 437 subjects from a random sample of 737 persons, over 75 yr of age and living independently in the southwest of England, were interviewed about their oral health concerns and desires for dental treatment. Most of the subjects could have received dental treatment without unusual risk, although a third of the sample said they could not move around or attend a dentist without assistance. A dentist had visited the homes of only 2% of the sample, while 22% expressed a desire for this service. Nearly half of those interviewed complained of a mouth problem and a third were experiencing oral pain, yet the majority had not been to a dentist for at least 10 yr, and had no wish to see a dentist. Many of the subjects, even among those with complaints, said they had not visited a dentist recently because they had nothing wrong, while only a small proportion (3%) of the sample identified fear, expense or transport as a barrier to dental treatment. The results indicate that elderly people do not have many oral health concerns or expectations.