Burden of Oral Disease Among Older Adults and Implications for Public Health Priorities

Overview

Journal Am J Public Health

Specialty Public Health

Date 2012 Mar 7

PMID 22390504

Citations 140

Authors

Susan O Griffin

Judith A Jones

Diane Brunson

Paul M Griffin

William D Bailey

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Dental disease is largely preventable. Many older adults, however, experience poor oral health. National data for older adults show racial/ethnic and income disparities in untreated dental disease and oral health-related quality of life. Persons reporting poor versus good health also report lower oral health-related quality of life. On the basis of these findings, suggested public health priorities include better integrating oral health into medical care, implementing community programs to promote healthy behaviors and improve access to preventive services, developing a comprehensive strategy to address the oral health needs of the homebound and long-term-care residents, and assessing the feasibility of ensuring a safety net that covers preventive and basic restorative services to eliminate pain and infection.

Citing Articles

Association Between Physical Function and Edentulism in Older Adults: Findings from the Indonesian Family Life Survey 2014.

Prihastuti R, Hinode D, Fukui M, Rodis O, Matsuka Y Inquiry. 2025; 62:469580251317643.

PMID: 39994979 PMC: 11851746. DOI: 10.1177/00469580251317643.

From Clinics to Communities: Understanding Public Perceptions of Dental Services in Pakistan.

Ali K, Zahra D, Bashir U, Raja H, Alkhtib A, Younas M Health Expect. 2025; 28(1):e70177.

PMID: 39967288 PMC: 11836344. DOI: 10.1111/hex.70177.

Investigating tooth morbidity risks, prevalence, and interventions in tribal setting: a study protocol focused on the Irula community in Tamil Nadu.

Sukumar M, Peter R, Joseph A Front Dent Med. 2025; 5:1427597.

PMID: 39917644 PMC: 11797941. DOI: 10.3389/fdmed.2024.1427597.

Epidemiological and Oral Public Health Aspects of Dental Pain: A Narrative Review.

Delgado-Perez V, Patino-Marin N, Rueda-Ibarra V, Marquez-Rodriguez S, Casanova-Rosado A, Casanova-Rosado J Cureus. 2025; 16(12):e74908.

PMID: 39742195 PMC: 11687405. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.74908.

Every bite counts to achieve oral health: a scoping review on diet and oral health preventive practices.

Chamut S, Alhassan M, Hameedaldeen A, Kaplish S, Yang A, Wade C Int J Equity Health. 2024; 23(1):261.

PMID: 39623427 PMC: 11613938. DOI: 10.1186/s12939-024-02279-0.

References

Little S, Hollis J, Stevens V, Mount K, Mullooly J, Johnson B . Effective group behavioral intervention for older periodontal patients. J Periodontal Res. 1997; 32(3):315-25. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0765.1997.tb00540.x. View

Martin K, Martin J . Meeting the oral health needs of institutionalized elderly. Dysphagia. 1992; 7(2):73-80. DOI: 10.1007/BF02493437. View

Tan H, Lo E, Dyson J, Luo Y, Corbet E . A randomized trial on root caries prevention in elders. J Dent Res. 2010; 89(10):1086-90. DOI: 10.1177/0022034510375825. View

Petersen P, Yamamoto T . Improving the oral health of older people: the approach of the WHO Global Oral Health Programme. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 2005; 33(2):81-92. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0528.2004.00219.x. View

Griffin S, Regnier E, Griffin P, Huntley V . Effectiveness of fluoride in preventing caries in adults. J Dent Res. 2007; 86(5):410-5. DOI: 10.1177/154405910708600504. View

Bush H, Dickens N, Henry R, Durham L, Sallee N, Skelton J . Oral health status of older adults in Kentucky: results from the Kentucky Elder Oral Health Survey. Spec Care Dentist. 2010; 30(5):185-92. PMC: 3732100. DOI: 10.1111/j.1754-4505.2010.00154.x. View

Sarita P, Witter D, Kreulen C, vant Hof M, Creugers N . Chewing ability of subjects with shortened dental arches. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 2003; 31(5):328-34. DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0528.2003.t01-1-00011.x. View

Grabenstein J, Guess H, Hartzema A, Koch G, Konrad T . Effect of vaccination by community pharmacists among adult prescription recipients. Med Care. 2001; 39(4):340-8. DOI: 10.1097/00005650-200104000-00005. View

Sheiham A, Steele J, Marcenes W, Finch S, Walls A . The relationship between oral health status and Body Mass Index among older people: a national survey of older people in Great Britain. Br Dent J. 2002; 192(12):703-6. DOI: 10.1038/sj.bdj.4801461. View

10.

Strayer M . Dental health among homebound elderly. J Public Health Dent. 1993; 53(1):12-6. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752-7325.1993.tb02665.x. View

11.

Heitz-Mayfield L, Trombelli L, Heitz F, Needleman I, Moles D . A systematic review of the effect of surgical debridement vs non-surgical debridement for the treatment of chronic periodontitis. J Clin Periodontol. 2003; 29 Suppl 3:92-102; discussion 160-2. DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-051x.29.s3.5.x. View

12.

. Recommendations for using fluoride to prevent and control dental caries in the United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2001; 50(RR-14):1-42. View

13.

Pajukoski H, Meurman J, Sulkava R . Oral health in hospitalized and nonhospitalized community-dwelling elderly patients. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod. 1999; 88(4):437-43. DOI: 10.1016/s1079-2104(99)70058-2. View

14.

Herrera D, Roldan S, Gonzalez I, Sanz M . The periodontal abscess (I). Clinical and microbiological findings. J Clin Periodontol. 2000; 27(6):387-94. DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-051x.2000.027006387.x. View

15.

Chen H, Baumgardner D, Rice J . Health-related quality of life among adults with multiple chronic conditions in the United States, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2007. Prev Chronic Dis. 2010; 8(1):A09. PMC: 3044020. View

16.

Beck J . The epidemiology of root surface caries. J Dent Res. 1990; 69(5):1216-21. DOI: 10.1177/00220345900690051901. View

17.

Sjogren P, Nilsson E, Forsell M, Johansson O, Hoogstraate J . A systematic review of the preventive effect of oral hygiene on pneumonia and respiratory tract infection in elderly people in hospitals and nursing homes: effect estimates and methodological quality of randomized controlled trials. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2008; 56(11):2124-30. DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2008.01926.x. View

18.

Katz R, Smith B, Berkey D, Guset A, OConnor M . Defining oral neglect in institutionalized elderly: a consensus definition for the protection of vulnerable elderly people. J Am Dent Assoc. 2010; 141(4):433-40. DOI: 10.14219/jada.archive.2010.0196. View

19.

Minassian C, DAiuto F, Hingorani A, Smeeth L . Invasive dental treatment and risk for vascular events: a self-controlled case series. Ann Intern Med. 2010; 153(8):499-506. DOI: 10.7326/0003-4819-153-8-201010190-00006. View

20.

Ku L . Medical and dental care utilization and expenditures under Medicaid and private health insurance. Med Care Res Rev. 2009; 66(4):456-71. DOI: 10.1177/1077558709334896. View