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Updated: May 29, 2026
08:47
Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
Dental service utilization by Europeans aged 50 plus
Stefan Listl1, Valerie Moran, Jürgen Maurer
1Department of Conservative Dentistry, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany. stefan.listl@med.uni-heidelberg.de
Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology
|September 8, 2011
Summary
Elderly dental service utilization varies across Europe. Scandinavian and Western European seniors receive more frequent and preventive care, only partially explained by need and access.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Dentistry
- Health Services Research
- Public Health
Background:
- Dental service utilization among older adults (50+) shows significant cross-European variation.
- Understanding these disparities is crucial for equitable healthcare planning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe variations in dental service use among individuals aged 50+ across 14 European countries.
- To determine the extent to which these variations are linked to oral health needs and dental care accessibility.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE Waves 2 and 3).
- Employed multivariate logistic regression models to analyze dental service utilization patterns.
Main Results:
- Higher overall dental attendance and preventive treatment rates were observed in the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland.
- Lower overall attendance was noted in Spain, Italy, France, Greece, Poland, and Ireland.
- Higher rates of solely operative treatment were found in Austria, Italy, and France, contrasting with lower rates in the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, and Ireland.
Conclusions:
- Elderly populations in Scandinavia and Western Europe tend to receive more frequent and preventive dental care.
- Observed utilization patterns are only partially explained by differences in oral health needs and dental care accessibility.
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