Journal of Public Health Dentistry
Volume 61, Issue 4, 2001, Pages 203-209

Dental caries experience, tooth loss, and factors associated with unmet needs of haitian immigrants in New York City (Article)

Cruz G.D.* , Xue X. , LeGeros R.Z. , Halpert N. , Galvis D.L. , Tavares M.
  • a Department of Epidemiology and Health Promotion, New York University, College of Dentistry, 345 East 24th Street, New York, NY 10010, United States
  • b Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University, School of Medicine, United States
  • c Minority Oral Health Research Center, NYUCD, United States
  • d New York University, College of Dentistry, United States
  • e New York University, College of Dentistry, United States
  • f Forsyth Institute, Boston, United States

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to characterize the dental caries experience, tooth loss, and unmet need of a group of Haitian immigrant residents of New York City. Methods: A purposive sample of 523 adults was obtained through community outreach activities during 1997-98. Clinical examinations were performed by calibrated examiners, according to NIDCR criteria. A comprehensive survey also was administered to all the participants. Results: For the whole group, the mean number of missing teeth was 2.64 (SD=4.12), the mean DMFT=6.05 (SD=5.26), the mean DMFS=18.80 (SD=21.04), and the mean DFS=5.58 (SD-6.17). Seventeen percent of the subjects had all their teeth sound, 59 percent had at least one tooth missing, 60 percent had at least one decayed tooth, and only 38 percent had restorations. Multivariate analyses showed that age, sex, education, dental insurance, frequency of dental visits, and dental floss use were predictors of unmet need. Conclusions: Although results showed a relatively low caries experience among this group of Haitian immigrants, the unmet need was very high. Furthermore, the tooth loss experience was relatively high for all age groups, further denoting a lack of access to preventive and restorative services.

Author Keywords

Haitian immigrants Tooth loss Unmet need dental caries

Index Keywords

educational status risk health insurance human middle aged Odds Ratio statistics DMF index health service Marital Status periodontal disease Aged Logistic Models Tooth Loss ethnology Health Services Needs and Demand marriage Haiti income Dental Care United States Humans Adolescent male female Aged, 80 and over dental caries Article adult New York City Utilization Review Analysis of Variance statistical model Insurance, Dental health survey
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0035468774&doi=10.1111%2fj.1752-7325.2001.tb03392.x&partnerID=40&md5=9654af62f9cb7dfe0cc0dcdf512ced1c
DOI: 10.1111/j.1752-7325.2001.tb03392.x
ISSN: 00224006
Cited by: 14
Original Language: English