186469 Predicting Oral Health Status: Examining Sociodemographic, Dental Service Access, Dental Service Utilization, and Alcohol Use Predictors in Adults

Monday, October 27, 2008

Joyce M. Downs, RDH, MS , College of Health Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA
Carleen M. Lynch, RDH, MS, MPH , School of Dental Hygiene, College of Health Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA
James Alan Neff, PhD, MPH , School of Community and Envionmental Health, College of Health Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA
Dental caries, periodontal disease, and reported pain are among the oral conditions which constitute oral health status. Identification of indicators that predict oral health status can improve the health and wellness of Americans. To identify predictors of oral health status, logistic regression analyses were performed on 2,848 adults included in the 2001-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survery (NHANES). Predictors included sociodemographic factors (race, gender, income, education), dental service access (possessing dental insurance or a regular dentist) and alcohol use as a behavioral risk (measured by frequency, quantity, and total weekly consumption), dental service use (dental visit past year, annual check-ups past 3 years). Caries were significantly (p<.05) more likely in blacks (OR=2.73), hispanics (OR=1.71), and males (OR= 1.23) and were less frequent in older adults (OR=.99)and those reporting a dental check-up in the last year (OR=.44). Periodontal and gum problems were significantly (p<.05) more likely among blacks (OR-2.34), hispanics (OR=1.80), and males (OR=1.61)and less likely in adults educated beyone high-school (OR=.65) and those who visited a dentist in the last year (OR=.65). Hispanics were significantly (p<.05) more likely to report dental pain in the last month (OR=1.79), while males were less likely (OR=.72) to report pain. The largest proportion of variance in oral health status was explained by sociodemographics (9.4%-16.0%) with less than 1% variance explained by dental service access, dental service utilization, and alcohol use. The limited amount of explained variance suggests the need to construct better measures of oral health status using NHANES data.

Learning Objectives:
To examine oral health status indicators To predict indicators to predict oral health status

Keywords: Oral Health, Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: PhD candidate in health services research Prior research: Bisphenol A levels in adults prior to and after placement of dental sealants
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Oral Health Poster Session V
See more of: Oral Health