Self-reported dental status and treatment need among elderly people.

A convenience sample of 180 elderly residents of Council flats in Wanganui were interviewed about their dental health and experiences of dental care. Thirty percent of the sample were dentate, and this was higher among younger subjects. Life-long or mostly life-long dental attendance was reported by 43 percent, and this was higher among individuals of higher socioeconomic status and those who had been educated to secondary school level or more. Life-long attenders were more likely to be dentate. Approximately one-third of subjects reported a current problem or dental treatment need.