Oral health status of the young-old and the old-old elderly in the vulnerable groups : data from the 7th (2016-2018) Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the oral health status and oral health behavior and identify the factors related to the oral health status by age-specific groups in vulnerable elderly individuals. Methods: We used data from the 7th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The differences in the oral health status and oral health behavior by age-specific groups were analyzed using complex sample chi-square tests and a generalized linear model. The relationship between the oral health status and oral health behavior by age-specific groups was analyzed using a complex samples general linear model. Results: The DMFT index of the young-old elderly was 10.65±0.60, and that of the old-old elderly was 12.78±0.72, which was higher. The condition of the mandibular prosthesis was more common in the old-old elderly, and there was a statistically significant difference (p<0.05). The DMFT index in the old-old elderly was found to be higher as the average number of brushings per day decreased, and no oral examination was performed. Conclusions: The vulnerable elderly themselves are interested in maintaining their own health, and the government needs to undertake efforts to reduce the medical blind spots by supporting institutional and environmental conditions so that health care services can be provided to the vulnerable elderly.

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