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Edentulism in high poverty rural counties.
Jordan Mitchell1, Kevin Bennett, Amy Brock-Martin
1Healthcare Administration, School of Business, University of Houston, Clear Lake, Houston, TX, USA. mitchellj@uhcl.edu
Summary
Residents of high-poverty rural counties experience higher rates of edentulism (tooth loss). Socioeconomic and health factors significantly predict tooth loss, highlighting disparities in oral health.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Dental Epidemiology
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Oral health disparities persist in the United States.
- Edentulism, or complete tooth loss, disproportionately affects vulnerable populations.
- Understanding geographic and socioeconomic influences on edentulism is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the prevalence of edentulism among residents of high-poverty rural counties versus other rural and urban populations.
- To identify specific oral health status differences related to poverty and geographic location.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the 2005 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and the 2006 Area Resource File (ARF).
- Employed SAS and SAS-callable SUDAAN for analyses, accounting for complex sample design and weighting.
Main Results:
- Geographic location, socioeconomic status, and health indicators were significantly associated with edentulism.
- Factors included income, education, insurance status, chronic disease, and usual source of care.
- Dentist saturation within a county also emerged as a significant predictor.
Conclusions:
- A significant association exists between residing in high-poverty rural areas and increased edentulism.
- Other rural counties also showed a higher prevalence of edentulism compared to urban areas.
- Socioeconomic status and overall health remain critical determinants of tooth loss.
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