Prevalence of Past-Year Dental Visit Among US Adults Aged 50 Years or Older, With Selected Chronic Diseases, 2018

• Authors: Nita Patel, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta; Rebecca Fils-Aime, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta; Chien-Hsun Li, CyberData Technologies Inc; Mei Lin, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta; Valerie Robison, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta
• Journal Title: PREVENTING CHRONIC DISEASE
• Volume: Volume 18
• Publisher: CENTERS DISEASE CONTROL & PREVENTION | 2021-04-01, Pages 1-7
• Type of Work: Article | Final Publisher PDF
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.5888/pcd18.200576
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Public Health
• Keywords: Science & Technology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Public, Environmental & Occupational Health; UNITED-STATES

Abstract

What is already known on this topic? Although routine dental care is an important component of maintaining overall health, little is known about dental service utilization among adults with chronic conditions. What is added by this report? We found small but consistent lower dental service utilization among older adults with diabetes, heart disease or stroke, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease compared with those without the disease after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics. We also found lower dental service utilization among older adults who smoked and who had lower income, less education, and no health care coverage. What are the implications for public health practice? Our findings suggest the need to examine effective interventions to increase dental service utilization among at-risk and vulnerable populations.