Older people in dental practice: Oral health and oral health care

The study in community-dwelling older people who still visit the dental practice shows that they are relatively healthy and in most cases have a higher socioeconomic status. Nevertheless, these older people also show an increase in health problems, the number of medicines being used and the number of oral health problems as they get older. The tipping point in most cases is around the age of 75. In the assessments of the oral health status, older patients themselves assess their own oral health more positively than the dentists do. The most frequently chosen treatment strategy focuses on conservation of the dentition. Up until now, there is little collaboration with other health care professionals involved in the care of older persons.
The barriers perceived in dental practice, in providing oral health care to older people are mainly related to their health problems, the sometimes occurring challenging behaviour and the poor performance of daily oral hygiene care by older people. Previously, a lack of knowledge about the (side) effects of medications used by older people appeared to be a barrier among dentists as well. The study also showed that the current financial reimbursement for providing oral health care is not a significant barrier in practice.
It is proposed to advocate basic dental care insurance from the age of 75 and to collaborate with other disciplines to improve oral health care for older people.