Factors associated with self-reported dental visits among older Melbournians. The MELSHA study 2008 data collection.

Abstract

Objective: To describe self-reported oral health-care visits and associated factors in older adults in Melbourne, Australia. Material and Methods:  201 older adults, 79-96 years, took part in the Melbourne Longitudinal Studies on Healthy Ageing (MELSHA) in 2008. Participants who visited a dentist within 12-months prior were identified. Logistic regression examined factors associated with the 12-month visits. Results: 47.7% reported visits to the dentist in the previous 12 months. Multivariate analyses showed dentate participants (OR=11.27; 95% CI: 4.38-29.00) were more likely to have a 12-month visit, and; those receiving a government pension or benefit were less likely to have a 12-month visit (OR=0.38; 95% CI 0.18-0.79). Conclusion: Compared with existing data on the oral health of older Australians, MELSHA participants appear to have lower dental attendance.  Findings highlight the need to increase older people sl eeking oral health-care, and the need to collect information to identify influencers of  oral health service usage.