Tooth Loss Condition and Social Discrimination in Brazilian Healthcare Services

Experience of Discrimination and Oral Health Self-Perception: A Cross-Sectional Study among Brazilian Adults

This cross-sectional study investigated the association between experiences of discrimination and oral health self-perception among a probabilistic cluster sample of Brazilian adults who participated in the 2013 National Health Survey. Oral health self-perception was categorized into three groups (very good + good; fair; poor + very poor). Reported experiences of discrimination included attributions based on the respondent's race/skin color, social class, income, occupation, illness, sexual orientation, religion, sex, and age. Covariates included sociodemographic data, oral health conditions, access to healthcare services, health habits, mental health, and participation in social and/or religious activities. Data were analyzed using ordinal logistic regression for non-proportional odds, considering sample weights and complex samples. Among 60,202 adults, 5.84% perceived their oral health as poor + very poor, with a significantly higher proportion among those experiencing discrimination (9.98%). Adults who experienced discrimination were 1.39 times more likely to report a "poor/very poor/fair" oral health self-perception compared to those who did not experience discrimination. Those who suffered discrimination were 1.28 times more likely to have a "very poor/poor" oral health self-perception than their counterparts who were not affected by discrimination. These findings underscore the importance of considering discrimination experiences as part of the social determinants influencing oral health.

Analysis of epidemiological trends of and associated factors for tooth loss among 35- to 44-year-old adults in Guangdong, Southern China, 1995-2015: a population-based cross-sectional survey

BACKGROUND

Tooth loss is a known marker of oral and systemic health, but large-scale population-based and cross-sectional multi-year comparative studies on tooth loss have yet to be much studied in China. This study explores the changing trends in tooth loss status and the associated factors influencing the prevalence of tooth loss over the past two decades in Guangdong, Southern China.

METHODS

Data from three cross-sectional, representative oral epidemiological surveys in Guangdong Province were analyzed, including 400 in 1995, 720 in 2005, and 288 in 2015, for a total of 1408 participants. Sample selection is based on the National Census of China published by the National Bureau of Statistics. In this study, each year, the number of missing teeth (MT) and the prevalence of tooth loss (MT > 0) were calculated. Basic demographic information, socioeconomic status, caries and periodontal status, personal lifestyle factors, and dental health care behaviors were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression to estimate their associations with tooth loss. Statistical significance was evaluated with 2-sided tests with a significance level of P < 0.05.

RESULTS

This study found that the mean number of missing teeth and the prevalence of tooth loss among adults aged 35-44 years in Guangdong Province did not change significantly in the first decade (1995-2005) but decreased significantly in the second decade (2005-2015) (0.94 and 40.8% in 1995, 0.99 and 42.9% in 2005, and 0.63 and 33.3% in 2015, respectively). The mean number of MT by tooth position was highest for the first and second molars, and both were larger in the mandible than in the maxilla. In 1995, populations with low educational attainment and the presence of caries or periodontal pocket (periodontal probing depth ≥ 4 mm) were associated with a higher chance of MT > 0. In 2005, those with low educational attainment, the presence of caries, and 40-44 years old were associated with a higher chance of MT > 0. Moreover, in 2015, females, rural residents, and those with caries or periodontal pocket were associated with a higher chance of MT > 0.

CONCLUSIONS

Although tooth retention has improved recently (2005-2015) and the preventive effect of education level on tooth loss has increased over time, efforts to prevent tooth loss in adults need to be strengthened. Particular attention should be given to preventive interventions for women, rural residents, and those suffering from caries or periodontal pocket.

The psychosocial impact of dental aesthetics and experiencing discrimination at a Peruvian public hospital among outpatients

Aim

To evaluate the association between outpatient’s perceived psychosocial impact of dental aesthetics and experiencing discrimination at a Peruvian public hospital.

Material and methods

Cross-sectional study in a Peruvian public hospital, where 207 outpatients (18–30 years old) were surveyed. We asked participants about self-reported experiences of discrimination in the last six months at a Peruvian public hospital using a question from the Peruvian National Household Survey on Living Conditions and Poverty (ENAHO) 2017. We also measured the perceived psychosocial impact of dental aesthetics with the Psychosocial Impact of Dental Aesthetics Questionnaire (PIDAQ). Additionally, we evaluated age, sex, ethnicity, education, income, and reason for being discriminated against. Association was assessed with Poisson regression using a robust estimator of variance and reporting prevalence ratios with 95% confidence intervals in crude and adjusted models.

Results

About two out of every five participants having experienced discrimination at a Peruvian public hospital in the last six months. On our adjusted estimates, we found discrimination to be positively associated with two components of the psychosocial impact of dental aesthetics, which were social impact (PR 1.02, 95% CI 1.00–1.04) and the psychological impact (PR 1.07, 95% CI 1.04–1.10). Conversely, dental self-confidence (PR 0.96, 95% CI 0.93–0.98) was negatively associated with discrimination.

Conclusions

The perceived psychosocial impact of dental aesthetics is associated with experiencing discrimination among outpatients from a Peruvian public hospital. We advocate for structural changes to address discrimination in healthcare spaces by corresponding governmental authorities.