Oral Health Needs Assessment of Non-Institutionalized Older Adults in South Texas

Older adults bear a heavy burden of oral disease, but data on their needs in areas like South Texas are limited. Assessing oral health and sociodemographic influences is key to guiding targeted public health efforts.

This study assessed oral health needs among non-institutionalized older adults in South Texas. It also examined associations between sociodemographic factors, including access to care and dental insurance-and oral health outcomes.

A cross-sectional pilot study was conducted with 103 older adults recruited through community outreach events. Participants completed surveys on demographics, oral health behaviors, insurance status, and access to care, and received oral health screenings. Descriptive statistics, logistic regression, and Poisson regression were used to identify factors associated with dental utilization and oral disease outcomes.

Participants were primarily aged 75 years or older (44%), female (68%), and Caucasian (42.7%). Nearly one-third (32%) lacked dental insurance, 31.1% had visited a dentist within the past 6 months, and 36.9% reported difficulty accessing needed care. Tooth loss of one to five teeth was reported by 44.7%. Adults aged 75 years or older were significantly less likely to access dental care than those aged 55-64 (OR = 0.15, p = 0.030). Non-Hispanic White participants were more likely than Hispanic participants to have had a recent dental visit (OR = 4.96, p = 0.013). Lack of dental insurance was strongly associated with lower dental visit rates (OR = 0.11, p = 0.001).

This research highlights the need to expand accessible dental services and the scope of practice for the dental workforce.