Dentists’ opinions on knowledge, attitudes and barriers in providing oral health care to older people living independently in the Netherlands and Flanders (Belgium)

Abstract

Objectives:The aim of this study was to investigate how dentists in the Netherlands and Flanders assessed their knowledge on oral health care to older people, what their attitude was and what barriers they experienced in rendering care to older people.Methods:The survey data was collected from a random sample of Dutch and Flemish dentists. Five hundred ninety-five dentists (37%) of the Dutch sample and 494 dentists of the Flemish sample (41%) completed the online questionnaire. Dentists were asked to respond to 15 Likert type items, representing opinions on provision of oral health care to older people and to give information about the number of older patients treated and about some profession-specific and personal characteristics.Results:The average number of patients treated per week was nearly twice as high in the Netherlands as in Flanders. Nevertheless, differences of opinions between dentists in the Netherlands and Flanders were relatively limited.Conclusions:This survey shows that in particular the actual number of older patients treated appears to be related with differences of opinions between Dutch and Flemish dentists about oral health care provided to (vulnerable) older people who live at home.

Edentulism in the elderly in Montenegro

“…[6], Popović at al. [7], as well as in numerous other studies [17,20,22]. DMFT values were lower in individuals who have responsible oral health behaviors.…”

“…Ova saznanja implementirana su u novu definiciju oralnog zdravlja [15,16]. Oko 30% Evropljana, starosti između 65 i 74 godine, nema više svoje prirodne zube [17]. Postoji preporuka za implementiranje oranozdravstvenih u opštezdravstvene preventivne programe, što uz kontinuitet njihovog sprovođenja treba da rezultira time da ljudi do 65. godine sačuvaju najmanje 20 prirodnih zuba [18].…”

“…Postoji preporuka za implementiranje oranozdravstvenih u opštezdravstvene preventivne programe, što uz kontinuitet njihovog sprovođenja treba da rezultira time da ljudi do 65. godine sačuvaju najmanje 20 prirodnih zuba [18]. Brojni autori su istraživali uticaj oralnozdravstvenih navika, socioekonomskog statusa i drugih karakteristika na pojavu oralnih oboljenja i posledičnu bezubost [5,6,7,[17][18][19][20][21][22][23].…”

“…These findings have been implemented in a new definition of oral health [15,16]. About 30% of Europeans, aged between 65 and 74, no longer have their natural teeth [17]. There is a recommendation for the implementation of oral health in general health prevention programs, which should result in people up to the age of 65 preserving at least 20 natural teeth [18].…”

“…There is a recommendation for the implementation of oral health in general health prevention programs, which should result in people up to the age of 65 preserving at least 20 natural teeth [18]. Numerous authors have investigated the influence of oral health habits, socio-economic status and other characteristics on the occurrence of oral diseases and consequent edentulousness [5,6,7,[17][18][19][20][21][22][23]. Demographic data indicate a decades-long trend of population aging [24].…”