Dental Services Utilization by over 65 Years Old in Israel in 2020

Abstract

To understand dental service utilization in the over-65 age group and to identify the main patterns and barriers to uptake of dental care after the 2019 expansion under the National Health Insurance Law to include dental benefits<span dir="RTL"> for the over-75 age group. Phone interviews with a random sample of 512 people over the age of 65 were conducted between February and April 2020. About half had visited a dentist during the previous year (an average of 2.9 visits) while 17% reported they had never visited one. Dental service utilization was lower among those living in the periphery, non-Jews and those who had difficulties covering their monthly expenses. Treatment cost was the main barrier to dental treatment, especially for those with difficulties in covering their monthly expenses. Despite the inclusion of dental treatment for people over the age of 75 in February 2019, the majority of respondents were unaware of this reform, thus the potential of the over-75 age group in lowering the cost barrier has not fully materialized.

Dental anxiety and ageing anxiety: Moderated mediation roles of Oral Health‐Related Quality of Life and subjective accelerated ageing

“…As previously demonstrated, 20 accessibility, affordability, and dental anxiety affect older peoples' views of dental care, which may be intransigent. Such explanations receive further support by a recent study conducted in Israel 36 . In the year 2019, a change was made to the Israeli National Health Insurance Law (NHIL), with the implantation of preventive and oral rehabilitation dental treatments to individuals >75 years of age.…”

“…The addition of such implantation implies that older adults are required to pay a reduced fee for both preventive and complex dental treatments. However, it was noted that despite the welcomed and much‐needed dental reform, older Israeli adults were unaware of it, 36 with treatment costs serving as a main barrier to dental treatments. In turn, income levels were previously demonstrated to affect ageing anxiety, further demonstrating the relationship between dental anxiety and ageing anxiety 37 …”

“…Such explanations receive further support by a recent study conducted in Israel. 36 In the year 2019, a change was made to the Israeli National Health Insurance Law (NHIL), with the implantation of preventive and oral rehabilitation dental treatments to individuals >75 years of age. Since 2022, the age criteria were reduced to those over 72 years of age.…”

Uptake of dental hygienist services by the Israeli 65+ age group

“… The study population included all older adults aged 65 and over living in the community in Israel, numbering about a million. The sample was randomly drawn from the computerized telephone directory of the older adults aged 65 and over living in the community in Israel. A random sample of 1250 people aged 65+ was drawn from computerized public telephone books by a private company as described elsewhere 4 …”

“…A random sample of 1250 people aged 65+ was drawn from computerized public telephone books by a private company as described elsewhere. 4…”