Cost‐related dental non‐attendance in older adulthood: evidence from eleven European countries and Israel

Abstract

The findings of the present study suggest that a relatively small proportion of dental non-attendance in older adulthood is cost-related. For specific population subgroups in various countries, however, dental care costs may still pose a relevant barrier to dental care.

Determinants of Postponed Dental Visits Due to Costs: Evidence from the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Germany

“…There is a lack of studies investigating specifically the postponement of dental visits due to cost-related reasons longitudinally [2], and this paper extends our current knowledge on this topic in older adults in Germany.…”

“…Furthermore, this study observed that postponement of dental visits due to costs was not associated with self-rated general health but instead was associated with having fewer chronic diseases. Interestingly, Listl et al reported that cost-related non-attendance was associated with worse general health in older adults using the first wave of the SHARE Project [2]. However, it should be noted that this study did not report results on the number of chronic diseases and used aggregated data from 11 European countries in its statistical analyses.…”

“…Although visiting a dentist for routine check-ups is considered to be an effective means of preventing and treating oral diseases [1], non-attendance occurs frequently [2,3]. Moreover, undetected oral diseases (e.g., untreated caries lesions and periodontitis) continue to be the main reasons for tooth loss [4].…”

“…The proportion of people postponing dental visits is greatest among those aged 25–29, slightly elevated among young and middle-aged adults, and low among children and older adults [3]. Interestingly, only 2.2% of European older adults (50+ years) reported not going to the dentist due to costs, and it was demonstrated that cost-related non-attendance was less likely among people who reported having good chewing ability, higher education, and better general health [2]. However, it is unknown whether there are changes over time in individuals, leading them to avoid going to a dentist because of the associated costs.…”

The socioeconomic impact of Korean dental health insurance policy on the elderly: a nationwide cohort study in South Korea

“…Many previous authors have pointed out that the high cost of dental treatment is the most common reason for delaying or not receiving dental care [1011]. Although oral reconstruction is a prerequisite for enhancing the quality of life and general health of the elderly, its application is sometimes restricted by the dental health insurance coverage, income, financial status, and oral health status of those older than 65 years [1213].…”