The August issue of the Journal of the California Dental Association covers adult oral health: factors and barriers.

Oral Health and the Demand for Dental Care
An introduction to the issue
Timothy T. Brown, PhD

The Demand for Dental Care and Financial Barriers in Accessing Needed Care Among Adults in California
Using economic models of the demand for dental care, the authors find that receiving dental care is positively related to having dental insurance, being female, increasing age, being white, Hispanic or Asian, higher levels of education, higher levels of family income, better health status, and being unmarried.
Timothy T. Brown, PhD; Tracy L. Finlayson, PhD; Brent D. Fulton, PhD; and Salar Jahedi, PhD

The Effect of Functional Limitations on the Demand for Dental Care Among Adults 65 and Older
In 2003, approximately 106,000 elderly women living in California communities experienced two or more limitations in activities of daily living and were thus 40 percent less likely to access dental care relative to elderly women with fewer limitations.
Timothy T. Brown, PhD; Yevgeniy Goryakin; and Tracy L. Finlayson, PhD

Adult Oral Health Status in California, 1995-2006: Demographic Factors Associated with Tooth Loss Due to Disease
Using data from 1995 to 2006, the authors found that California adults who were older, less educated, racial/ethnic minorities, current or former smokers, or had lower annual incomes were more likely to be missing teeth.
Tracy L. Finlayson, PhD; Timothy T. Brown, PhD; Brent D. Fulton, PhD; and Salar Jahedi, PhD

The Oral Health Status of Adults 65 and Older in California: 1995-2006
In 2006, approximately 75 percent of older adults were missing one or more teeth due to disease. Those who are older, black, less educated, have low family income, or are current or former smokers are more likely to be missing teeth. The authors present their findings in this article.
Timothy T. Brown, PhD, and Yevgeniy Goryakin, PhD

The Associate Editor/
Coming to California?
By Brian Shue, DDS

Impressions/

Dr. Bob/
Economizing
By Robert E. Horseman, DDS