Methods: The MABAT ZAHAV survey was carried out to assess the health, nutritional, functional and cognitive status of the 65+ population living in the community. 1853 elderly were interviewed in their homes. The questionnaire included demographic data, health behavior including nutrition status and dietary intake, health (including oral) status and illnesses, functional, cognitive and mental status. The oral health section included 6 questions on self assessment, service utilization, removable denture use, chewing problems and consequent food choice restrictions and the Hebrew version of OHIP14.
Results: (1) 10.7% of the Jewish men and 15.7% of the Jewish women classified their oral health as bad, while 10.8% of the Arab men and 13.3% of the Arab women did so. (2) As for a dentist visit in the 2years prior to the interview, 41.2% of the Jewish men and 68.2% of the Arab men reported none (p<0.0001). 39.3% and 69.5% of the Jewish and Arab women, respectively, reported similarly (p<0.0001).(3) 17.2% of the Jewish and 19.6% of the Arab men reported chewing problems (the difference was not statistically significant), while 23.9% and 33.8% of women did so (p<0.01). 58.2% of those reporting chewing problems, also reported consuming soft food as a result of that. 17.9% of the Jews and 14.2% of Arabs reported an impact of oral health on their quality of life according to OHIP14 (but the difference not statistically significant).
Conclusions: A significant proportion of community dwelling elderly in Israel reported that oral health problems impair their quality of life. The results emphasize the urgent need for targeted and sustainable programs to prevent, to treat and to improve the oral health of the Israeli elderly.