Objectives: This study was designed to determine whether older people perceive oral health as being important to Quality of Life (QoL) and if so, to identify the most important ways in which their lives are affected. In addition, to identify if subgroups of older people perceive its importance differently.
Design: Nationwide qualitative face to face interviews with older people were carried out utilising the Office for National Statistics Omnibus survey in Great Britain.
Subjects and methods: 454 adults aged 65 or older took part in this study, part of a random probability sample of adults in the UK.
Setting: Respondents were interviewed in their homes.
Results: 72% (313) perceived their oral health status as important to their QoL through a variety of physical, social and psychological ways. Most frequently its impact on function: eating (29%, 126) and symptoms: comfort (14%, 59) were considered most important. Gender and social class variations were apparent (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Older people perceive oral health as being important to life quality in a variety of different ways. There are significant social class and gender variations which must be taken into consideration when assessing oral health needs of older people.