ArticleSpecial care in dentistry : official publication of the American Association of Hospital Dentists, the Academy of Dentistry for the Handicapped, and the American Society for Geriatric Dentistry
Access to and Utilization of Dental Care Services by Older Adults in Nigeria: Barriers and Facilitators.
Article in Special care in dentistry : official publication of the American Association of Hospital Dentists, the Academy of Dentistry for the Handicapped, and the American Society for Geriatric Dentistry. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Oral hygiene practices and dental caries experience in Nigeria: A systematic review and meta-analysis.PloS one · 2026Pooled it
- A novel AI system for preliminary triage support in single-tooth edentulous spaces using intraoral images.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- Barriers to the Utilization of Government Dental Health Services Among Low-Income Families in Ugwuaji, Enugu South LGA of Enugu State, Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Survey.Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dentistry · 2026Article
- Integrating social science into oral health and dental research: a narrative review.Frontiers in oral health · 2025Review
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
aimsNigeria's rapidly aging population presents urgent challenges for the healthcare system, particularly in oral health, which remains an overlooked aspect of well-being. While older adults are especially vulnerable to dental issues such as tooth loss, periodontal disease, and oral pain, access to care remains limited due to systemic, economic, and cultural barriers. This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of older Nigerians in accessing and utilizing dental care, with the goal of identifying key barriers, facilitators, and policy-relevant insights.
methodsFifteen participants aged 50-83 years were purposively selected from urban and peri-urban areas of Ilorin, North-Central Nigeria. Using a semi-structured interview guide, data were collected through face-to-face interviews and analyzed thematically following Braun and Clarke's methodology.
resultsThree overarching themes emerged: (1) barriers to accessing dental care, including high treatment costs, geographic inaccessibility, mobility challenges, and long waiting times; (2) facilitators of care, such as family support, employment-based insurance, and culturally supportive health beliefs; and (3) perceptions of dental care, with participants recognizing its importance for nutrition, dignity, and overall quality of life. Findings reveal that dental care for older adults in Nigeria is shaped by a combination of structural neglect and individual adaptation. While participants valued preventive care, financial constraints, poor infrastructure, and a lack of geriatric-trained professionals limited consistent access. However, social support networks and respectful provider interactions were critical enablers of care.
conclusionsThis study points to the need for age-inclusive health policies that integrate dental services into primary healthcare, expand insurance coverage, and strengthen community-based outreach. Addressing these gaps is not only a matter of public health, but of equity, dignity, and the right to age well.
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