142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

Annual Meeting Recordings are now available for purchase

304522
Healh Related Quality of Life and Its Association with Use of Dental Services and Tooth Loss in Mississippi Adults

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Monday, November 17, 2014

Sai Kurmana, MD, MPH , Chronic Disease Programs, Mississippi State Department of Health, Jackson, MS
Rodolfo Vargas , Mississippi State Department of Health, Jackson, MS
BACKGROUND: Oral health is an important but frequently overlooked part of overall health that significantly affects quality of life (QOL). Our objective was to examine the association between health related QOL (HRQOL), use of dental services and tooth loss among adult population in Mississippi who participated in the Behavioral and Risk Factor Surveillance.

METHODS: Data from 2012 Mississippi Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System was used to examine the association between HRQOL, dental services and tooth loss among 7,788 survey respondents. Logistic regression models were used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (AOR's) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS: The unadjusted prevalence for use of dental services in the past year was 55.4% [standard error (SE), ±0.8]. The unadjusted prevalence by level of tooth loss was 41.2% (SE, ±0.8) for no tooth loss, 33.1% (SE, ±0.6) for 1-5 missing teeth, 16.6% (SE, ±0.5) for 6-31 missing teeth and 7.9% (SE, ±0.5) for total tooth loss. Lack of dental care in the preceding 12 months was associated with 2.4 times greater odds of worse self-rated general health [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.94-3.02] than receiving dental care in the preceding 12 months. Loss of 1-5 permanent teeth was associated with 1.6 times greater odds of worse self-rated general health [95% CI = 1.29-2.02].

CONCLUSIONS: An association between HRQOL, dental services and tooth loss was evident among adults in Mississippi. Further research is needed to determine whether better oral health improves HRQOL in this population.

Learning Areas:

Epidemiology
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Demonstrate relationships between dental visits, tooth loss and aspects of overall patient health and identify types of risk behaviors that are preventable for optimal oral health.

Keyword(s): Oral Health, Quality of Life

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been the Senior Epidemiologist in Mississippi State Department of Health focusing on the epidemiology of chronic disease/oral health/injuries prevention programs. Among my scientific interest has been the development of evidence based strategies for optimal oral health.
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.

Back to: 3098.0: Oral Health Epidemiology