Abstract
AbstractIntroduction Access to dental services is a growing problem for older people in the UK. The aim of this scoping review is to identify the barriers and facilitators influencing older people's ability to access oral healthcare in the UK based on the existing literature.Methods The scoping review followed the framework proposed by Levac and colleagues (2010). Peer-reviewed literature was retrieved in April 2023 from Web of Science, Medline, PsycInfo and CINAHL for the period 1973-2023. After screening, data were extracted to identify barriers and facilitators mapped to individual, organisational and policy-level factors. The themes generated were used to identify gaps in the literature and policy recommendations.Results Overall, 27 studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Most studies published were from England; there was a large representation of opinion pieces. The main barriers and facilitators related to cost of services, perceptions of dentistry, availability of services and both the dental and social care workforce.Conclusion Multiple barriers exist surrounding access to dental care for older people. Various facilitators exist but not all are successful. More research needs to be carried out on older people's access to dental services in the community, particularly for the ‘oldest old' and minority groups.
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Reference67 articles.
1. UK Government. What is known about the oral health of older people in England and Wales. 2015. Available at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/489756/What_is_known_about_the_oral_health_of_older_people.pdf (accessed November 2022).
2. Office for National Statistics. Population and household estimates, England and Wales: Census 2021. 2022. Available at https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/bulletins/populationandhouseholdestimatesenglandandwales/census2021 (accessed November 2024).
3. Alpert P T. Oral Health: The Oral-Systemic Health Connection. Home Health Care Manag Pract 2016; 29: 56-59.
4. Ramsay S E, Whincup P H, Watt R G et al. Burden of poor oral health in older age: findings from a population-based study of older British men. BMJ Open 2015; 5: e009476.
5. NHS England. Adult Dental Health Survey 2009 - England Key Findings. 2011. Available at https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/adult-dental-health-survey/adult-dental-health-survey-2009-summary-report-and-thematic-series (accessed July 2024).