Views and perceptions of oral health and associated care in dependent older adults: semi structured interviews with a range of stakeholders

McMullan J 1 , Watson S 1 , Brocklehurst P 2 , Tsakos G 3 , Watt RG 3 , Wassall RR 4 Show all authors , Sherriff A 5 , Ramsey SE 6 , Karki AJ 2 , Tada S 7 , Lappin C 8 , Donaldson M 9 , Logan D 1 , Choong EKM 10 , Lordan A 1 , McKenna G 11

Affiliations 

  • 1 Centre for Public Health, School of Medicine Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
  • 2 Public Health Wales, Cardiff, UK
  • 3 Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK
  • 4 School of Dental Sciences, Newcastle, UK
  • 5 Glasgow Dental School, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
  • 6 Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
  • 7 Disciplines of Endodontics, Operative Dentistry and Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore
  • 8 Department of Health, Castle Buildings, Stormont, Belfast, UK
  • 9 Health and Social Care Board, Belfast, UK
  • 10 Department of Community Oral Health & Clinical Prevention, Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 11 Centre for Public Health, School of Medicine Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK; Faculty of Dentistry, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand. Electronic address: g.mckenna@qub.ac.uk
J Dent, 2026 Oct 27.
PMID: 42946116 DOI: 10.1016/j.jdent.2026.107131

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The vast majority of those over 65 years old have increased oral health needs when compared to previous generations, particularly those dependent on others for care. This study aimed to report the views and perceptions of key stakeholders regarding the oral health of dependent older adults, the current dental care/services provided for this group and identify improvements required to services.

METHODS: Following development of a topic guide, semi-structured interviews were conducted with a range of stakeholders, including dependent older adults. The interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim for thematic analysis.

RESULTS: 36 interviews were conducted with a range of stakeholders including dependent older adults, carers, family members, health care professionals, researchers and experts focused on ageing and / or oral health research. Six major themes emerged from the qualitative interviews: experiences of oral health; current oral health services for dependent older adults; consequences of poor oral health; improvements required in oral health care for dependent older adults and oral health outcomes important to dependent older adults CONCLUSIONS: Across all stakeholder groups there was agreement that oral health is not currently prioritised for dependent older adults with care assistants often reluctant to engage in oral hygiene practices. However participants did report that they understood the importance of oral care particularly as it related to quality of life and oral function. Older adults reported that they valued subjective measures of oral health status including oral comfort, oral function and the ability to socialise.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Previous research with dependent older adults has largely focused on clinical measures of oral health despite patients' themselves valuing subjective outputs such as oral comfort and function more strongly. Future oral health services research in this population should ensure that outcome measures used are actually meaningful to dependent older adults as well as clinicians and policymakers.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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