Perceived oral health in a diverse sample

Area of Science:

• Oral Health Research
• Sociodentistry
• Health Outcomes

Background:

• Perceived oral health reflects an individual's subjective assessment of their oral condition.
• The single-item perceived oral health rating is a commonly used measure.
• Understanding factors influencing perceived oral health is crucial for public health initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine associations between age, ethnicity, and perceived oral health.
• To identify predisposing, enabling, and need variables related to perceived oral health.
• To explore predictors of perceived oral health across diverse demographic groups.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of adult social survey data from the International Collaborative Study of Oral Health Outcomes (ICS-II).
• Utilized multiple regression models to explain variance in perceived oral health.
• Compared data from three distinct United States research locations.

Main Results:

• Multiple regression models explained over 30% of the variance in perceived oral health (R squares: 0.324–0.391).
• Significant predictors included ethnic group, education, perceived general health, edentulism status, oral pain, oral symptoms, and dental visits.
• Age and ethnic differences were observed in predictors; fewer oral symptoms were universal for middle-aged adults, while edentulism was universal for older adults.

Conclusions:

• Perceived oral health is significantly related to sociodemographic factors and dental utilization.
• Findings suggest perceived oral health can serve as a valuable outcome measure in dental research and practice.
• Tailoring interventions based on age and ethnicity may improve perceived oral health outcomes.