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Elderly dental care. Needs and costs in three different resident settings
D Kandelman1, G Gagnon, R Hurley
1Dept. of Oral Health, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Montreal.
Oral Health
|April 1, 1990
Summary
Elderly dental care costs averaged Can. $720, regardless of residence. Poor oral health, including inadequate dentures, was common, with costs varying significantly between dentate and edentulous individuals.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Dental Public Health
- Health Economics
Background:
- Established dental treatment needs for the elderly population.
- Lack of determined cost analysis for elderly dental care requirements.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare dental services and associated costs for older adults across three distinct residential settings.
- To evaluate dental needs and expenditures in institutionalized and homebound elderly individuals.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of dental needs and costs in 305 elderly individuals.
- Participants resided in nursing homes (N=156), low-cost housing (N=79), or received home care (N=70).
- Statistical analysis using F-test (P < .05) and chi-square to compare treatment needs and costs.
Main Results:
- Poor dental and periodontal health, high edentulousness, and inadequate dentures were prevalent.
- Average rehabilitative dental costs were Can. $720, with no significant difference across residence types.
- Significant cost variations were observed between dentate and edentulous elderly populations.
- Annual maintenance care costs averaged Can. $80 per person.
Conclusions:
- Elderly individuals in various residential settings exhibit substantial dental needs, primarily related to prosthetics and oral hygiene.
- Rehabilitative dental costs are consistent across different living arrangements but differ based on dentition status.
- The findings highlight the economic impact of dental care for the aging population, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions.