Social network and regular dental care utilisation in elderly men. Results from the population study "Men born in 1914", Malmö, Sweden
Rickardsson, B.; Hanson, B.S.
Swedish Dental Journal 13(4): 151-161
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0347-9994 PMID: 2799661 Document Number: 327073
In connection with an extensive examination of their health status, a representative sample of 68-year-old men (n = 621) in the city of Malmo, Sweden, were interviewed in detail regarding different aspects of the social network, social support and social influence of the individual, dental care utilisation and perceived dental health. 79% of the dentate and 7% of the edentulous subjects made regular dental visits. The most important reason for not visiting a dentist regularly was "no perceived need." Social class and different aspects of social network and social support were in univariate analyses associated with regular dental care. In the multivariate analysis, social anchorage and social participation, subconcepts of the social network, and social class showed independent associations with regular dental care. The addition of the social network and social support variables yielded a more differentiated and thereby a more valid picture of the determinants of regular dental care utilisation. These factors should therefore be considered when public health efforts to increase the number of elderly persons receiving regular dental care are made.