Dental care use and other population characteristics of older Americans with self-reported chronic conditions in the health and retirement study

To analyze relative differences in oral health care utilization, oral health, and other population characteristics of older Americans with respect to self-reported chronic conditions in the health and retirement study.

Methods

Differences in estimated percentages of those with specific chronic conditions by selected attributes were tested for statistical significance with standardized normal Z tests and logistic regressions. All estimates were based on weighted data from 1992 to 2016 Early Release RAND HRS Longitudinal file. SE estimates for the percentages accounted for the complex sample design of the survey.

Results

We establish that the strength of the associations between regular use of dental care and the absence of a chronic condition is similar in magnitude to having a college education, living in a high-income family, never smoking, not having certain functional limitations, and being under 65 years of age.