Factors affecting oral examinations and dental treatments among older adults in Israel

BACKGROUND: Routine dental examinations are important for early diagnosis and treatment of dental problems among older adults in order to improve their quality of life and avoid costly future treatments. In Israel, a significant percentage of adults do not seek dental care. METHODS: The study is based on a 2017 telephone survey conducted among people aged 50–75 from different population groups in Israel to examine their health beliefs and attitudes toward dental treatments. RESULTS: The results show that among older adults the decision to undergo routine dental checkups is affected by socio-demographic status and health beliefs regarding dental health. Lower age, higher income levels, and Jewish religion predicted higher chances of frequent checkups. In addition, those who saw the benefits of routine checkups, believed that dentists were readily available, and had higher levels of health motivation were more likely to seek out routine dental care. CONCLUSIONS: According to the recent dental reform in Israel, people aged 75 and over are eligible for subsidized dental treatments. To enhance the frequency of dental checkups among older adults, it is recommended to provide this subsidized coverage for adults under age 75. In addition, planning dental health services for individuals in this age group should be based upon their accepted beliefs and values. Moreover, systematic health education through the media and health maintenance organizations should specifically target this population group to encourage them to undergo dental checkups more frequently.