Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, College of Public Health, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee, USA.
Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, College of Public Health, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee, USA.
Int Dent J. 2023 Aug;73(4):558-565. doi: 10.1016/j.identj.2023.01.004. Epub 2023 Feb 20.
Rates of dental visits of older adults in the United States, particularly in Tennessee, are rapidly increasing, coupled with the growing complexity of older adults' dental treatment. Notably, increased dental visits help detect and treat dental disease and offer opportunities for preventive care. This longitudinal study aimed to examine the prevalence and determinants of dental care visits amongst Tennessee seniors.
This observational study combined multiple cross-sectional studies. Five even years of Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance system data were used, including 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2018. Our data were limited to Tennessee seniors (60 years or older). Weighting was conducted to account for the complex sampling design. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the factors associated with dental clinic visits. A P value < .05 was considered statistically significant.
The current study comprised 5362 Tennessee seniors. Older individuals visiting dental clinics within 1 year gradually decreased from 76.5% in 2010 to 71.2% in 2018. The majority of participants were female (51.7%), White (81.3%), and located in Middle Tennessee (43.5%). Logistic regression showed that those more likely to visit dentists or dental clinics included females (odds ratio [OR], 1.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-1.8), never-smokers and former smokers (OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.5-3.4), individuals with some college education (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.1-2.4), college graduates (OR, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.8-4.1), and those with high incomes (eg, >$50,000; OR, 5.7; 95% CI, 3.7-8.7). Conversely, Black participants (OR, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.4-0.8), participants with fair/poor health (OR, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.5-0.8), and those who have never married (OR, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.3-0.8) were less likely to report dental visits.
Rates of Tennessee seniors visiting dental clinics within 1 year have gradually decreased from 76.5% in 2010 to 71.2% in 2018. Several factors were associated with seniors seeking dental treatment. Effective interventions to improve dental visits should take the identified factors into account.
美国老年人，尤其是田纳西州老年人的牙科就诊率迅速上升，同时老年人的牙科治疗也变得越来越复杂。值得注意的是，增加牙科就诊次数有助于发现和治疗牙科疾病，并提供预防保健的机会。本纵向研究旨在探讨田纳西州老年人的牙科保健就诊率及其决定因素。
本观察性研究结合了多项横断面研究。使用了 2010 年、2012 年、2014 年、2016 年和 2018 年的行为风险因素监测系统五年的数据。我们的数据仅限于田纳西州的老年人（60 岁或以上）。为了考虑复杂的抽样设计，进行了加权。采用逻辑回归分析确定与牙科诊所就诊相关的因素。P 值<.05 被认为具有统计学意义。
本研究共纳入 5362 名田纳西州老年人。在一年内到牙科诊所就诊的老年人比例逐渐从 2010 年的 76.5%下降到 2018 年的 71.2%。大多数参与者为女性（51.7%）、白人（81.3%），位于田纳西州中部（43.5%）。逻辑回归显示，更有可能看牙医或去牙科诊所的人包括女性（比值比[OR]，1.4；95%置信区间[CI]，1.1-1.8）、从不吸烟和以前吸烟的人（OR，2.2；95% CI，1.5-3.4）、具有一定受教育程度的人（OR，1.6；95% CI，1.1-2.4）、大学毕业生（OR，2.7；95% CI，1.8-4.1）和高收入者（例如，>50,000 美元；OR，5.7；95% CI，3.7-8.7）。相比之下，黑人参与者（OR，0.6；95% CI，0.4-0.8）、自评健康状况不佳/非常差的参与者（OR，0.7；95% CI，0.5-0.8）以及从未结婚的参与者（OR，0.5；95% CI，0.3-0.8）看牙医的可能性较低。
从 2010 年的 76.5%到 2018 年的 71.2%，田纳西州老年人一年内到牙科诊所就诊的比例逐渐下降。一些因素与老年人寻求牙科治疗有关。为了提高牙科就诊率，应考虑到已确定的因素，采取有效的干预措施。
