Eleven-year trend in the impacts of oral conditions among elders

Objectives: To describe the change in the impacts of oral conditions among community-dwelling South Australian aged 60+ and investigate the factors that influence those changes. Methods: At baseline (1991), 5-year follow-up (1996) and 11-year follow-up (2002) of a cohort study in South Australian aged 60+, a 49-item Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-49) questionnaire was used to collect the impact of oral conditions data and telephone interview was conducted to collect self-reported dental health, dental behaviours and dental service use data. In addition, clinical examination data were obtained at baseline and each follow-up. Results: 905 dentate people completed the OHIP questionnaires, interviews and clinical examinations at baseline. Of these, 492 (54.3%) were retained at 5-year follow-up and 258 (28.5%) at 11-year follow-up. The mean OHIP-49 severity scores in 1996 (22.9) and 2002 (22.6) were similar to that in 1991 (21.9) (P=0.24, P=0.47, paired t-tests respectively). Results of ANCOVA showed that older adults who lost 1+ tooth (P=0.02), usually visited for dental problems (P<0.01), and avoided dental care because of cost (P=0.046) were more likely to report the deterioration in oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) from baseline to 5-year follow-up. Those who lost 1+ tooth (P=0.01), and usually visited for dental problems (P=0.04) were more likely to report the deterioration in OHRQoL from 5-year to 11-year follow-up. Conclusion: The severity of the impacts of oral conditions among older South Australian followed longitudinally was unchanged from baseline to 5 and 11 year follow-up. However, among the elders, the impacts of oral conditions were observed to increase for those with financial hardship, suffering tooth loss and usually visiting for dental problems over 5 years, and those suffering tooth loss and usually visiting for dental problems over 5 to 11 years.