Prevalence of and factors associated with dental service utilization among early elderly in Lithuania

Abstract

Background There is no recent information about dental service utilization (DSU) among elderly in Lithuania. We examined DSU and its associated factors in Lithuanian early elderly based on the Andersen’s behavioural model. Methods The cross-sectional study conducted in 2017–2019 included a nationally representative stratified sample of 370 Lithuanian early elderly aged 65–74 years (response rate of 54.5%). Information on predisposing factors (age, sex, nationality and education), enabling factor (residence), need-based factors (status of teeth, oral pain or discomfort, and dry mouth), general health, personal health practices and perceived stress was obtained from a structured, self-administered questionnaire. Clinically-assessed need-based factors included number of missing teeth and dental treatment need. Multivariable Poisson regression with robust variance estimates was used. Results A total of 239 study participants (64.6%) reported a dental visit during the last year and 338 (91.4%) needed dental treatments. A higher level of education (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] = 1.21, 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.04–1.40), pain or discomfort in teeth/mouth (aPR = 1.35, 95%CI: 1.13–1.62) and lower number of missing teeth (aPR = 0.99, 95%CI: 0.98–1.00) were associated with DSU. Conclusions Even though majority of early elderly needed dental treatments, only two-thirds visited a dentist during the last year. Predisposing and need-based factors were significant predictors of having a dental visit in the last year. A national oral health program for Lithuanian elderly with the focus on regular preventive dental check-ups is needed. More studies, both quantitative and qualitative, are warranted to investigate in depth the barriers for DSU among elderly in Lithuania.

The 20-Year Trends in Caries and Associated Determinants among Adults in Post-Soviet Lithuania: Repeated Cross-Sectional Studies

“…The proportion of participants reporting the last dental visit within the last year increased in both age groups. A recent study indicated that the majority of 65-74-year-old Lithuanians needed dental treatment; however, only approximately two-thirds of them visited a dentist during the last year [Drachev et al, 2022]. The authors concluded the need for more studies to examine the barriers and facilitators to dental service utilization and to establish a national oral health program for the Lithuanian elderly emphasizing the value of regular preventive dental examinations.…”

Using machine learning algorithms to investigate factors associated with complete edentulism among older adults in the United States

“…For example, previous studies have reported the presence of teeth as an important factor in the utilization of dental services. [29][30][31] Thus, longitudinal studies are necessary to support the causative effects between the last dental visit and complete tooth loss.…”

“…Although we found the last dental visit and several other exploratory variables to be strongly associated with the outcome of complete edentulism in our analysis, we are unable to provide strong evidence for causation. For example, previous studies have reported the presence of teeth as an important factor in the utilization of dental services 29–31 . Thus, longitudinal studies are necessary to support the causative effects between the last dental visit and complete tooth loss.…”

Socioeconomic inequalities in the utilization of dental services among adults in Saudi Arabia

“…Previous research that has used the Andersen model to assess socioeconomic disparities in the utilization of dental services has shown that enabling factors are key predictors [30]. Significant socioeconomic predictors included income [31][32][33][34][35][36][37], education [32,33,[35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42], wealth [32,41], dental health insurance coverage [32,35,40,43,44], and social support [28,34,43]. One study in Saudi Arabia used the Andersen model to investigate the utilization of dental services but only among children [45].…”