Utilization of Dental Services by the Elderly1

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Abstract
Older persons utilize dental services at a significantly lower rate than they use other health services, and lower than the rates for younger age groups. This presentation will focus on utilization behavior within the framework of a person‐environment congruence model. Much of the previous research in this area has been concerned with the person component, specifically predisposing (demographic) and enabling (financial resources) variables. But these variables have rarely been found to predict a significant proportion of the variance in utilization behavior. More recent studies have examined perceived and objective need for dental care, and have found low perceived need among non‐utilizers. The author's own research on psychosocial factors in dental behaviors points to the role of attitudes, personality, and perceived oral health status in determining the older person's oral self‐care and utilization behaviors. Our research with elderly Caucasians and Pacific Asians suggests that reducing the traditional barriers to dental care delivery and educating older persons about oral health will not significantly improve their health care behaviors. Attitudinal barriers must first be overcome. Research on other psychological and environmental barriers to dental service utilization, and alternative methods of eliminating these barriers is needed. Areas of potentially valuable research are discussed. Only by moving from descriptive to more experimental studies such as these can we enhance the oral health behaviors of the elderly population.

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