Trends in the use of dental services by elderly Brazilians and related socio-dernographic factors based on the National Household Survey (1998 and 2003)

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated factors in the use of dental services by elderly Brazilians in 1998 and 2003. The Andersen & Newman model was used as the conceptual basis for the research. 28,943 and 35,040 elderly participants from the 1998 and 2003 National Household Surveys were included in the study. Elders who had visited the dentist during the previous year were compared to those who had never been to the dentist, using multinomial logistic regression. Prevalence of dental visits in the previous year increased from 13.2 to 17.4%. Predisposing factors (gender, age, and schooling), need factors (general health perception), and enabling factors (per capita household income, health insurance coverage, rural/urban residence, and geographic macro-region) were independently and significantly associated with use of dental services. Important social disparities were also observed, highlighting the need for policies to reduce such inequalities.