Utilization of dental services in a disadvantaged, rural population

Abstract

The use of dental services was studied through personal interviews with 216 pensioners and welfare recipients aged 20–60 who had attended a subsidized dental health program. The respondents were living in a rural community in Norway, and the levels of education and income within the group were generally low. Eighty-four respondents had less than 5 remaining teeth. Only 20% of the group sought dental care regularly or occasionally, whereas 49% had not visited a dentist for at least 5 years. Regular treatment attenders were mostly to be found among respondents with 5 or more teeth, among women, among persons younger than 50, and among those with the highest income.

Denture services and extractions were the most common types of treatment sought by the greater number of respondents. Thirty-five per cent of the group stated that they had never had to have a tooth filled. High costs were declared to have been an obstacle to treatment attendance by 77% of the respondents.