Dental Care in Ethnic Populations Over 65

Borrell, L.N., Burt, B.A., and Neighbors, H.W. (2004, May). Social Factors and Periodontitis in an Older Population. American Journal Public Health. 94(5), 748 -- 754. PMCID: PMC1448332

This article discusses the relationship between age, ethnicity, socio-economic status, and educational level with respect to oral dental health and particularly focuses on periodontitis. Research and conventional wisdom have long pointed to poorer health outcomes for people with lower socioeconomic status than for people with higher socioeconomic status.

Studies on the differences in received dental care for older individuals -- particularly those aged 65 and older -- indicate that oral health is poorer and dental care less frequent for this population. In this article, the authors evaluate various characteristic for blacks, Hispanics (Mexican-Americans), and whites in these age groups: 50-59 years; 60-69 years, and >70 years. The indicator "Time since last dental visit" is telling: 47.7%...
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