As individuals move into older adulthood, they are more likely to experience a growing number of functional limitations (which include walking, getting in and out of beds and chairs, bathing, dressing, eating, and using the toilet) that prevent them from accessing dental services. Authors study the impact that such functional limitations have on the ability of individuals to access dental care. The analysis uses data from the 2003 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS).

Findings: Women who need special equipment or the assistance of another person in two or more of the following areas are less likely to visit a dental professional than the average women in the sample: walking, getting in and out of beds and chairs, bathing, dressing, eating, and using the toilet. Approximately 106,000 women aged 65 or older were in this category in California. Policymakers, both public and private, should consider how to aid such individuals in obtaining dental care. Individual practitioners should also consider implementing simple practice changes to help increase access to care for elderly patients with functional limitations, such as purchasing equipment that will make their offices more accessible and comfortable places to visit, and perhaps providing some services through mobile dental clinics.