Epidemiology of oral health and oral health disparities among older adults

Reducing persistent oral health disparities among vulnerable low income older adults and adults with disabilities is a central objective in Healthy People 2020 and is a priority of state health departments and area agencies on aging. Limited knowledge of oral health and prevention and treatment alternatives, cultural differences in language and perception of oral health problems, and structural barriers to care such as insurance gaps, limited transportation, and inadequate culturally relevant public education combine to increase oral health disparities in vulnerable populations. The purpose of this paper is to set the stage for symposium by presenting data on the prevalence of oral health conditions among older adults  The presentation also will describe disparities in oral health among older adults compared to younger adults as well as disparities among older adults by race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status.