March 2008

Volume 25, Issue 1

The influence of social indices on oral health and oral health behaviour in a group of Flemish socially deprived adolescents.

Authors: L.C. Martens J. Vanobbergen G. De Reu
doi: 10.1922/CDH_1895Martens05

Abstract

Objectives: To report on the oral health status and its impact on the life quality of homeless people in Hong Kong. Design: A cross sectional epidemiological survey involving clinical oral examinations and face-to-face interviews with 147 homeless participants. Clinical examinations were carried out following WHO criteria. The impact of oral health on quality of life was assessed with the short form of Oral Health Impact Profile, OHIP-14. Results: Over 90% had caries experience and most related to untreated decay. The mean DMFT score for dentate subjects was 8.1 (DT = 3.4, MT = 4.0, FT = 0.7). Periodontal disease was highly prevalent, 96% having periodontal pockets. The burden of oral health on their daily lives was common, 88% reporting an oral health impact within the past year. A multiple regression analysis indicated that the OHIP-14 score had significant associations with self-rated oral health, dental pain, employment status and length of time being homeless (p<0.05). Those who assessed rated oral health as ‘poor/very poor’, reported dental pain in the past year, were unemployed, and homeless for more than one year had poorer oral health related quality of life (significantly higher OHIP scores) than their counterparts. Conclusion: Among the homeless population studied, oral health status was poor and its impact on their life quality was substantial. The oral health impact was associated with socio-demographics and perceived dental problems. Key words: Homeless, oral health, quality of life

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Other articles in this issue

Article Pages Access
Editorial - Oral health promotion by the oral health products industry: unrecognised and unappreciated? 2-3 Download
Report of the EGOHID I Project 4-10 Download
Acknowledgment of referees 11-11 Download
Exposure to water fluoridation and caries increment 12-22 Download
A comparison of two methods for the evaluation of the daily urinary fluoride excretion in Romanian pre-school children 23-27 Download
A randomised control trial of oral health education provided by a health visitor to parents of pre-school children 28-32 Download
The influence of social indices on oral health and oral health behaviour in a group of Flemish socially deprived adolescents. 33-37 Download
Development of a shortened Japanese version of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP) for young and middle-aged adults 38-43 Download
Parents’ views on factors influencing the dental health of Trinidadian pre-school children. 44-49 Download
Coronal caries experience in dentate Jordanian adults 50-54 Download
The prevalence of enamel opacities in permanent teeth of 11-12 year-old school children in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 55-58 Download
Factors associated with restoration and extraction receipt among New Zealand children 59-64 Download

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