Evaluation of Mobile and Community Dental Service Use among People Experiencing Homelessness

Bohuslav Novak, Marek Matajs, Alessandro Emanuele Sangalli, Halyna Pruts, Anna Korpasova, Nikos Leptos, Peter Stanko (), Michal Tinak and Michaela Kosticova
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Bohuslav Novak: Unit of Conservative Dentistry, Department of Stomatology and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Heydukova 10, 812 50 Bratislava, Slovakia
Marek Matajs: Unit of Conservative Dentistry, Department of Stomatology and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Heydukova 10, 812 50 Bratislava, Slovakia
Alessandro Emanuele Sangalli: Unit of Conservative Dentistry, Department of Stomatology and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Heydukova 10, 812 50 Bratislava, Slovakia
Halyna Pruts: Unit of Prosthetic Dentistry, Department of Stomatology and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Heydukova 10, 812 50 Bratislava, Slovakia
Anna Korpasova: Unit of Prosthetic Dentistry, Department of Stomatology and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Heydukova 10, 812 50 Bratislava, Slovakia
Nikos Leptos: Unit of Prosthetic Dentistry, Department of Stomatology and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Heydukova 10, 812 50 Bratislava, Slovakia
Peter Stanko: Unit of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Stomatology and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Heydukova 10, 812 50 Bratislava, Slovakia
Michal Tinak: Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Spitalska 24, 813 72 Bratislava, Slovakia
Michaela Kosticova: Institute of Social Medicine and Medical Ethics, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Sasinkova 2, 813 72 Bratislava, Slovakia

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: The aim of the study was to evaluate the patterns of mobile and community dental service use among people experiencing homelessness in Bratislava, Slovakia. Data from medical records of homeless people who visited the mobile and community dental clinic from November 2012 to July 2018 have been retrospectively reviewed. The experience of providing dental services has been reported from the perspective of the dental care provider. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. In total, 319 patients (75.5% men) attended the clinic. Extraction of a tooth was the main dental treatment indicated in more than 80% (n = 276) of patients. A total of 363 teeth were extracted with an average number of 1.6 extracted teeth per patient. The main indications for extraction were dental caries and its sequelae (83.7%) and periodontal disease (15.2%). The patients with the need for prosthetic and conservative treatment were referred to the clinics at University Hospital; however, only 19 patients received the treatment. The barriers to accessing dental care were cost, logistic problems and individual psychological factors. We found that people experiencing homelessness in Slovakia have high needs and demands of emergency dental care and many systemic and individual barriers prevent them from accessing care. Community-based dental services are important for improving access to dental care and reducing oral health inequities.

Keywords: homeless persons; dental care; community health service; access to care (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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