Preventive and Need-Driven Use of Dental Services among Community-Dwelling Older People with Long-Term Care Needs

Oral health is a key component of quality of life among older adults, yet maintaining preventive dental care becomes increasingly difficult for those with long-term care (LTC) needs. This study examined patterns of preventive and need-driven dental service use among home-dwelling older adults with LTC needs in Japan and identified the caregiving, functional, and socioeconomic factors associated with these patterns. Data were drawn from a nationwide online survey of family caregivers reporting dental service use among older adults certified under the Japanese Long-Term Care Insurance system (n = 1,055). Poorer financial situations increased the likelihood of a lack of dental visits, whereas need-driven visits were more common among those who received intensive or long-term caregiving and whose caregivers reported a greater burden. Dementia status was not independently associated with dental service use. These findings highlight the importance of promoting preventive dental care within community-based LTC systems, particularly as care needs intensify. Key Points Financial strain was linked to having no dental visits More intensive and longer caregiving, especially with higher caregiver burden, was linked to need-driven dental visits Dementia status was not independently associated with dental service use