Changes in perceived oral health in a longitudinal population-based study.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Dental Epidemiology
• Longitudinal Studies

Background:

• Perceived oral health (POH) is crucial for overall well-being.
• Understanding longitudinal changes in POH is vital for public health planning.
• Finnish adults' POH was assessed over an 11-year period.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine changes in subjective oral health (SOH), self-assessed treatment need (STN), and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) over 11 years.
• To determine if these POH measures change similarly and are related in the Finnish adult population.
• To analyze POH changes by age group and gender.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal data from the Health 2000 and Health 2011 surveys of Finnish adults.
• SOH and STN measured via single items; OHRQoL using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14).
• General linear mixed models used to analyze changes in POH variables, adjusted for age and gender.

Main Results:

• SOH and OHRQoL generally remained good or improved; STN results were less consistent.
• Approximately half of participants reported STN in both survey years, with a decrease in women and an increase in the youngest age group.
• Significant POH improvements were observed in the two oldest age groups; changes in all three POH measures were related.

Conclusions:

• Multiple POH measures are valuable for service planning due to their varied changes and distinct aspects.
• Longitudinal data reveal different trajectories for SOH, STN, and OHRQoL.
• Future research should integrate self-perceived and clinical indicators for a comprehensive understanding of oral health needs.