Oral health perception in veterans with self-identified disabilities: National Survey of Veterans, 2010

Dental Care Utilization among Veterans by Smoking Status

BACKGROUND

Given the critical importance of dental care utilization among veterans and the overall health consequences of tobacco use in all populations, the purpose of this research is to examine smoking as a risk factor for poor dental care utilization among United States Veterans.

METHODS

A secondary data analysis of cross-sectional data from the National Survey of Veterans was conducted. The primary outcome was dental care utilization (Yes, No). Frequency, chi-square analyses, and multivariate logistic regression statistical tests were performed while adjusting for confounding factors.

RESULTS

There were 6,308 veterans in the study. Veterans who were current smokers were less likely to have dental care utilization within the previous six months than former smokers or never smokers. In unadjusted logistic regression analysis, current smokers had an odds ratio of 2.83 [95% CI: 2.36, 3.40] as compared with never smokers. The adjusted odds ratio for current smoking on dental care utilization was 1.71 [95% CI: 1.40, 2.09] as compared with never smoking.

CONCLUSIONS

Since veterans who smoked are less likely to have dental care utilization within the previous six months, they are at higher risk for later diagnosis of dental problems. Veterans who smoke should be specifically targeted with interventions to ensure frequent dental visits, so future problems may be averted or managed early in their development.

Normative prosthodontic care need: does it impact the daily life of young Saudis with high level of oral diseases? A cross sectional study

BACKGROUND

Assessing the need for prosthodontic care previously included older age groups. There is less information about younger populations who may need this care because of high disease levels. The aim of this study was to assess the normative need for prosthodontic care in a young Saudi population with high oral disease levels, the associated factors and its impact on daily life.

METHODS

A cross sectional study included Saudi adults in the Eastern Province in 2016. A questionnaire was used to assess personal background (confounders), risk factors affecting oral diseases (exposures) and the impact of oral problems on daily life. A clinical examination assessed tooth loss, the presence of prosthodontic appliances, the presence of untreated decay and need for periodontal care. Directed acyclic graphs identified the confounders to be included in regression models with separate outcomes: normative need for prosthodontic care (binary logistic model) and impact on 6 daily life aspects (ordinal regression models).

RESULTS

Complete data were available for 574/ 700 = 82% and 46.7% needed prosthodontic care with 2 lost teeth on average among adults of mean age = 33.2 years. The confounders controlled for the need for prosthodontic care included socioeconomic status (SES), dental visits last year and health insurance. The confounders for the impact on daily life included age and SES. In adjusted models, normative need for prosthodontic care was significantly associated with untreated decay (OR = 2.09, 95% C.I. = 1.37, 3.19). The impact on daily life was not significantly associated with prosthodontic care need but with untreated decay, especially sleeplessness (regression coefficient = 0.53, 95% C.I. = 0.02, 1.04) and dropping daily activities (regression coefficient = 0.79, 95% C.I. = 0.13, 1.46). In addition, the need for periodontal care was associated with food avoidance (regression coefficient = 0.73, 95% C.I. = 0.28, 1.18).

CONCLUSIONS

In Saudi adults in the Eastern Province, there was a considerable normative need for prosthodontic care due to untreated decay. The impact on daily life was related to the underlying oral diseases rather than the need for prosthodontic care itself.