Influential factors on oral health status of the elderly Iranians: A path analysis

Objectives: This study aimed at assessing the influential factors on oral health status of the elderly Iranian population (65 to 74 years of age) by using Path analysis.

Methods: This study was conducted on 7,521 elderly individuals participating in the Iranian National Oral Health Survey in 2012. The DMFT and functional health (FH) indices were evaluated first. Then socio-economic status (SES), insurance type (IT), dental attendance pattern (DAP), reason of attendance (R of A), tooth cleaning ( TC), and nutritional pattern (NP) were evaluated according to responses provided in the questionnaire. Path analysis was applied to analyze the patterns between these variables and DMFT and FH indices.

Results: The participants' mean DMFT was 26.6 +/- 8.03, and the median FH was 0 (0.10). Path analysis revealed that seniors with higher SES, and having a dental insurance with greater coverage had direct effect on more regular DAP, and indirect effect on improvement of FH and DMFT index. More regular DAP had direct effect on improvement of FH, and DMFT indices. Likewise, NP with low risk of caries had direct effect on improvement of FH and DMFT index.

Conclusion: Out of all evaluated factors, IT, SES, DAP, and NP demonstrated to be particularly important and significantly affecting DMFT and FH indices in the elderly population. Out of all aforementioned factors, IT in low SES individuals was more important for obtaining required oral healthcare services. Apparently, seniors'oral health is absolutely in need of special attention with particular focus on providing early access to preventive care.