Oral health status and need for dental care among elderly in East York, Ontario collective residences--1985
Leake, J.L.; Price, S.A.; Schabas, R.E.
Canadian Journal of Public Health 78(5): 323-328
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0008-4263 PMID: 3690451 Document Number: 294984
We describe the clinical dental status, need for care and self-reported characteristics of a sample of 236 elderly people in collective living centres in the Borough of East York, Metropolitan Toronto. The findings are from a sample survey carried out in 1985 using standard WHO methods and trained interviewers and dentist-examiners. We found that 43% were dentate with an average of 14.0 natural teeth present. The dentate needed the most care, including 65 prosthetic services, treatment for a mean of 1.4 decayed teeth and periodontal services. However, 38% of the sample did not need any treatment and another 9% needed only basic periodontal care. In contrast, 9% needed care urgently. These elderly respondents expressed strong preferences for dental care services that could be provided free, located at their residence and co-ordinated by the Health Unit.