Oral deterioration
4.49. Deterioration of oral health is particularly
significant for the effect it has on quality of life, not just
directly, but also in many other ways. A person's oral health
status can affect not just how they chew, taste and enjoy food,
but can have more profound physical and psychological influences
on how they enjoy life: how they look, how they speak, and how
they socialise, as well as their self-esteem, self image and feelings
of social well-being.[88]
But although oral ill-health has such a profound effect on the
psycho-social welfareparticularly of the elderly who have
poor oral healthit tends to be a poor relation in terms
of the notice the public take of it, and in terms of the research
funding it attracts (Q 96).[89]
4.50. The current shortage of dentists is well-known.
We know that the Government is addressing this problem although,
given the time needed for training new dentists, this will be
a slow process unless more qualified dentists can be encouraged
to work in this country. This shortage is however a matter of
particular concern in relation to older people, since they need
more frequent access to dentists, but are less able to join the
queues of people attempting to register with new dentists.
4.51. We recommend that the Department of
Health should continue to take urgent steps to remedy the shortage
of dentists, and to encourage a habit of more frequent check-ups,
especially among older people.
Conclusion
4.52. Older people are disproportionately
affected by many specific diseases and sensory impairments, and
the expenditure directed at these diseases appears to be far lower
than would be expected. A population with a growing number of
older people will result in an increasing burden on society from
some conditions for which age is a significant risk factor.
4.53. The Government should re-examine their
research priorities, and promote expenditure on research into
the alleviation of those conditions which disproportionately affect
older people.
64 p 357. Back
65
General Household Survey 2003, table 7.13 Back
66
From the evidence of Professor Carol Brayne, p165. Back
67
The Stroke Association, p 142. Back
68
Professor Ian Philp in the Foreword to The National Clinical
Guidelines for Stroke, 2nd edition, June 2004. Back
69
Wolfe et al, Variations in Case Fatality and Dependency from Stroke
in Western and Central Europe, American Heart Association, February
1999. Back
70
Clinical Effectiveness and Evaluation Unit, Royal College of Physicians,
March 2005. Back
71
Lowin et al, Alzheimer's disease in the UK: comparative evidence
on cost of illness and volume of health services research funding,
International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry (2001) vol 16, pp
1143 - 1148. Back
72
Final Report of the Review by Derek Wanless, Securing Our Future
Health: Taking A Long-Term View, April 2002. Back
73
Cancer Research UK, p 304. Back
74
Cancer Research UK, p 305. Back
75
Biosciences Federation, p 330. Back
76
Paragraphs 3.21 to 3.26. Back
77
From the evidence of Mrs Linda Kelly, p 164. Back
78
From the evidence of Professor Clive Ballard, p 165. Back
79
p 159. Back
80
Lowin et al, Alzheimer's disease in the UK: comparative evidence
on cost of illness and volume of health services research funding,
International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry (2001) vol 16, pp
1143 - 1148. Back
81
Research Councils UK, p 198. Back
82
From the evidence of Mr Mike Brace, Chief Executive, Vision 2020,
p 178. Back
83
JR Evans et al, Prevalence of visual impairment in people aged
75 years and older in Britain, British Journal of Ophthalmology
2002;86:795-800 cited in p 408. Back
84
Thomas Pocklington Trust, p 408. Back
85
From the evidence of Mr Mike Brace , p 178. Back
86
p 355. Back
87
From the evidence of Professor Karen Steel, p 186. Back
88
Professor Aubrey Sheiham and Dr Georgios Tsakos, p 395. Back
89
From the evidence of Professor Elizabeth Kay, p 41. Back