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Perceived oral health in a diverse sample
1Section of Public Health Dentistry, UCLA School of Dentistry 90095-1668, USA.
Advances in Dental Research
|May 1, 1997
Summary
Perceived oral health is influenced by age, ethnicity, and socioeconomic factors. Key predictors include education, general health, and dental visit history, highlighting diverse influences on oral well-being.
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.
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