Comparisons of poverty and nonpoverty groups on dental status, needs, and practices

Poverty and nonpoverty adults have been screened in a program of Multiphasic Health Testing in which dental examinations were provided and in which information on dental care behavior was obtained through a health inventory using a video-terminal for recording replies. Findings of the dental examination indicate that, whatever measure of oral health was used, oral health of the poverty group was poorer than that of the nonpoverty group. The poverty group, for example, had more dental problems, and the problems they had were more severe. They also had lower levels of oral hygiene and less restorative treatment. The poverty group also was more likely to be edentulous, and to have higher levels of untreated decay and periodontal diseases. They had more missing teeth, and fewer restored teeth. Nearly all poverty-nonpoverty differences persisted when the data were controlled for age and sex. Information from the health inventory indicates that the poverty group is less likely than those in the nonpoverty group to seek dental care in general, and also specifically for rreventive dental services. Even among the nonpoverty group, however, one third stated that they never sought dental care for "cleanings or checkups." Daily toothbrushing, on the other hand, was generally reported by both poverty-status groups. Consistent relations were found between oral health practices and oral health in both poverty and nonpoverty groups...