Research review of oral health status and service use among institutionalized older adults in the United States and Canada.

United States and Canadian studies have reported that a relatively large proportion of the institutionalized, older adult population is afflicted with a host of dental diseases and rarely seeks dental services. Analysis of existing published information indicates areas of concern including the need for incidence data, consensus on appropriate measures, and samples that will provide representative and comprehensive information about compromised older adults, irrespective of institutional or homebound status. Special emphasis should be placed on determining risk factors for dental disease, through longitudinal study of older adults.