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Oral Health Disparities (oral + health_disparity)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	100%

Selected Abstracts

The International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS): an integrated system for measuring dental caries

COMMUNITY DENTISTRY AND ORAL EPIDEMIOLOGY, Issue 3 2007
A. I. Ismail
Abstract,,, This paper describes early findings of evaluations of the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS) conducted by the Detroit Center for Research on Oral Health Disparities (DCR-OHD). The lack of consistency among the contemporary criteria systems limits the comparability of outcomes measured in epidemiological and clinical studies. The ICDAS criteria were developed by an international team of caries researchers to integrate several new criteria systems into one standard system for caries detection and assessment. Using ICDAS in the DCR-OHD cohort study, dental examiners first determined whether a clean and dry tooth surface is sound, sealed, restored, crowned, or missing. Afterwards, the examiners classified the carious status of each tooth surface using a seven-point ordinal scale ranging from sound to extensive cavitation. Histological examination of extracted teeth found increased likelihood of carious demineralization in dentin as the ICDAS codes increased in severity. The criteria were also found to have discriminatory validity in analyses of social, behavioral and dietary factors associated with dental caries. The reliability of six examiners to classify tooth surfaces by their ICDAS carious status ranged between good to excellent (kappa coefficients ranged between 0.59 and 0.82). While further work is still needed to define caries activity, validate the criteria and their reliability in assessing dental caries on smooth surfaces, and develop a classification system for assessing preventive and restorative treatment needs, this early evaluation of the ICDAS platform has found that the system is practical; has content validity, correlational validity with histological examination of pits and fissures in extracted teeth; and discriminatory validity. [source]

Oral health disparities and food insecurity in working poor Canadians

COMMUNITY DENTISTRY AND ORAL EPIDEMIOLOGY, Issue 4 2009
Vanessa Muirhead
Abstract,,, Objectives:, This study explored oral health disparities associated with food insecurity in working poor Canadians. Methods:, We used a cross-sectional stratified study design and telephone survey methodology to obtain data from 1049 working poor persons aged between 18 and 64 years. The survey instrument contained sociodemographic items, self-reported oral health measures, access to dental care indicators (dental visiting behaviour and insurance coverage) and questions about competing financial demands. Food-insecure persons gave ,often' or ,sometimes' responses to any of the three food insecurity indicators used in the Canadian Community Health Survey (2003) assessing ,worry' about not having enough food, not eating enough food and not having the desired quality of food because of insufficient finances in the previous 12 months. Results:, Food-insecure working poor persons had poor oral health compared with food-secure working poor persons indicated by a higher percentage of denture wearers (P < 0.001) and a higher prevalence of toothache, pain and functional impacts related to chewing, speaking, sleeping and work difficulties (P < 0.001). Fewer food-insecure persons rated their oral health as good or very good (P < 0.001). Logistic regression analyses showed that oral health disparities between food-insecure and food-secure persons related to denture wearing, having a toothache, reporting poor/very poor self-rated oral health or experiencing an oral health impact persisted after adjusting for sociodemographic factors and access to dental care factors (P < 0.05). Food-insecure working poor persons reported relinquishing goods or services in order to pay for necessary dental care. Conclusions:, This study identified oral health disparities within an already marginalized group not alleviated by access to professional dental care. Working poor persons regarded professional dental care as a competing financial demand. [source]

Attributes of an ideal oral health care system

JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH DENTISTRY, Issue 2010
DrPH, Scott L. Tomar DMD
Abstract Objectives: The sense of urgency concerning the inadequacies of the current U.S. oral health care system in better preventing oral diseases, eliminating oral health disparities, and ensuring access to basic oral health services has increased in recent years. This paper sought to articulate the attributes that an ideal oral health care system would possess, which would be consistent with the principles of the leading authorities on the public's health. Methods: The authors reviewed policy statements and position papers of the World Health Organization, The Institute of Medicine, The American Public Health Association, Healthy People 2010 Objectives for the Nation, and the American Association of Public Health Dentistry. Results: Consistent with leading public health authorities, an ideal oral health care system would be have the following attributes: integration with the rest of the health care system; emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention; monitoring of population oral health status and needs; evidence-based; effective; cost-effective; sustainable; equitable; universal; comprehensive; ethical; includes continuous quality assessment and assurance; culturally competent; and empowers communities and individuals to create conditions conducive to health. Conclusions: Although there are some attributes of an ideal oral health care system on which the United States has made initial strides, it falls far short in many areas. The development of an oral health care delivery system that meets the characteristics described above is possible but would require tremendous commitment and political will on the part of the American public and its elected officials to bring it to fruition. [source]

Successful fluoride plebiscite in the township of Deniliquin, New South Wales, Australia

JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH DENTISTRY, Issue 2 2010
DPH (Dent), Shanti Sivaneswaran BDS
Abstract Objectives: This article describes the strategies adopted to influence the outcome of a plebiscite held in March 2004 in favor of water fluoridation in Deniliquin, a rural town in New South Wales, Australia. Methods: The health promotion strategies undertaken included the following: a) the skillful use of media to educate the community on the benefits of water fluoridation; b) disseminating contemporary local data to demonstrate oral health disparities with neighboring fluoridated townships; and c) a well-established lobbying machine to mobilize the community. Results: Out of a total population of 5,280 on the electoral roll, 4,539 residents voted, giving a response rate of 86 percent. The wording of the plebiscite was "Do you support the addition of fluoride to Deniliquin town water supply?" There were 2,533 "yes" votes (55.8 percent), 1,879 "no" votes (41.4 percent), and 127 spoiled votes (2.8 percent). Conclusions: The council resolved to implement water fluoridation and the residents received fluoridated water in January 2005. [source]

Oral Health Status of San Francisco Public School Kindergarteners 2000,2005

JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH DENTISTRY, Issue 4 2006
Lisa H. Chung DDS
Abstract Objectives:To determine the prevalence of dental caries and oral health disparities in San Francisco kindergarten public school children from 2000,2005. Methods:The San Francisco Department of Public Health in partnership with the San Francisco Dental Society and assistance from the National Dental Association, has been conducting annual dental screenings of kindergarten children enrolled in the San Francisco Unified School District since 2000. Outcomes assessed from this series of cross-sectional screenings included prevalence of caries experience, untreated caries, treatment needs, and caries severity by child's sex, race/ethnicity, residential zip code, and a proxy for socioeconomic status. Results:Of 76 eligible schools, 62,72 participated, and 86,92% of enrolled children (n=3,354-3,527) were screened yearly. Although there was a small, significant decrease over the time period, in 2005, 50.1% of children had caries experience; 28.8% had untreated caries and 7.6% had urgent treatment needs. Each year caries prevalence was greatest for Asian children, those attending schools with > 50% children eligible for the free or reduced-price meal program, and children living in zip codes in and around Chinatown and San Francisco's southern border. Conclusions:Despite signs of improvement, caries remains a public health problem especially in Asian and Hispanic children, and children living in certain sections of San Francisco. [source]