Cohort differences among aging populations: An update.

Background: The US population is aging. Most older adults are retaining their natural teeth for longer, and fewer are becoming edentulous.

Methods: Among people 65 years and older, there is greater heterogeneity than at any other time in the life cycle because these cohorts are influenced by historical experiences and the sociodental events during their life spans. These events and experiences have affected their health behaviors and, consequently, their systemic and oral health. This article is an update on 2 previous articles that described birth cohorts spanning from 1900 through 1945, whereas this article describes 5 specific cohorts born from 1920 through 1980.

Results: The authors used data from the literature to describe the historical and socioeconomic influences, as well as the key events in the history of dentistry, that have affected each of these cohorts' attitudes and expectations toward the use of health care and dental care services.

Conclusions: The authors identified cohort differences regarding health behaviors, which included attitudes toward dentistry and dental care service use.

Practical Implications: Dentists should be aware of cohort differences in regard to dental care service use, in addition to modifiers that are specific to each patient, to offer the most customized and age-appropriate oral health care.