Thursday, April 13, 2006
On April 7, 2006 - A Survey was conducted by researchers at University at Buffalo and Buffalo State College on senior's access to dental care and the report presents a sobering picture of the dental need and barriers experienced by seniors in dental care.
The result showed that only 11 percent of 273 senior have had active dental insurance. Nothing wound ring, given that figure, more than half - 52 percent - listed financial need as the great barrier to receiving dental care.
"Little is known about the dental-care needs of urban-versus-rural-dwelling seniors in this part of New York State," said Zittel-Palamara. "Earlier research indicated that seniors who live in rural areas have less access to dental care than their urban-dwelling contemporaries
Our study showed similar findings in Western New York. Programs designed to improve access to dental care need to be sensitive to regional differences."
The results showed that access to dental care is rated "fair-to-poor" by 1 in 3 respondents. Nearly three-fourths -- 71 percent -- of urban dwellers indicated they had seen a dentist within the past year, compared to 58 percent of rural dwellers. Twenty percent of rural dwellers and 15 percent of urban dwellers had not seen a dentist for six or more years.
Zittel-Palamara said the ultimate goal of this study is to encourage dentists to integrate social workers and other disciplines into their practices to help senior patients obtain better access to dental care. In addition, the study aims to spur development of programs to help seniors get dental insurance, she said, and to establish the need for a mobile dental van to serve local senior-center sites.
The result showed that only 11 percent of 273 senior have had active dental insurance. Nothing wound ring, given that figure, more than half - 52 percent - listed financial need as the great barrier to receiving dental care.
"Little is known about the dental-care needs of urban-versus-rural-dwelling seniors in this part of New York State," said Zittel-Palamara. "Earlier research indicated that seniors who live in rural areas have less access to dental care than their urban-dwelling contemporaries
Our study showed similar findings in Western New York. Programs designed to improve access to dental care need to be sensitive to regional differences."
The results showed that access to dental care is rated "fair-to-poor" by 1 in 3 respondents. Nearly three-fourths -- 71 percent -- of urban dwellers indicated they had seen a dentist within the past year, compared to 58 percent of rural dwellers. Twenty percent of rural dwellers and 15 percent of urban dwellers had not seen a dentist for six or more years.
Zittel-Palamara said the ultimate goal of this study is to encourage dentists to integrate social workers and other disciplines into their practices to help senior patients obtain better access to dental care. In addition, the study aims to spur development of programs to help seniors get dental insurance, she said, and to establish the need for a mobile dental van to serve local senior-center sites.
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