Factors associated with the use of dental services by elderly Brazilians

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between recent use of dental services, socioeconomic factors and oral health measures among elderly Brazilians. METHODS: The sample consisted of elderly individuals aged 65 to 74, who participated in the Brazilian Oral Health Survey in 2010 (Brazil SB-2010). The dependent variable was “recent use of dental services” (last dental visit ≤ 2 years). The independent variables were: 1) sociodemographic factors, clinical oral health measures, and subjective measure of oral health. Statistical analysis included descriptive analyses of frequency, bivariate and multiple analyses using Poisson regression. RESULTS: About 46.5% of the elderly individuals had had a dental appointment in the last two years. In the multiple Poisson regression model, education, income and region were independently associated with the outcome. Individuals with 0-20 teeth and need for prosthesis had a lower prevalence of recent dental visit. A higher prevalence of recent dental visit was observed among individuals in need of dental treatment and among those with dental prosthesis. CONCLUSIONS: Recent use of dental services was associated with socioeconomic factors (education, income, and region) and clinical oral health measures (number of teeth, use and need for dental prosthesis and need for dental treatment).