Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 16, Issue 1, 2014, Pages 95-101

The oral health status of recent immigrants and refugees in nova Scotia, Canada (Article)

Ghiabi E.* , Matthews D.C. , Brillant M.S.
  • a Department of Dental Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Dalhousie University, 5981 University Avenue, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
  • b Department of Dental Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Dalhousie University, 5981 University Avenue, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
  • c Department of Dental Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Dalhousie University, 5981 University Avenue, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada

Abstract

There are no published reports on the oral health status of adult immigrants and refugees in Canada. An oral health interview and clinical oral examination were conducted on 45 recent immigrants and 41 recent Bhutanese refugees, aged 18-67, in Nova Scotia, Canada. Over half (53 %) of the immigrants and 85 % of the refugees had untreated decay. Most (89 % of immigrants; 98 % of refugees) had moderate to severe gingivitis and the majority (73 % of immigrants; 85 % of refugees) had moderate to severe periodontitis. Despite these, 64 % of immigrants and 49 % of refugees rated their oral health as good, very good or excellent, and most believed they did not need fillings or periodontal treatment. Oral disease among the study sample was higher than the Canadian average and there was a striking discrepancy between self-reported and clinically determined need for dental care. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Author Keywords

Dental immigrants Oral health Refugees Canada

Index Keywords

refugee Mouth Diseases mouth disease Diagnosis, Oral Oral Health human Refugees middle aged health status ethnology Bhutan interview health Humans migrant Adolescent Interviews as Topic Canada male Emigrants and Immigrants female adult Nova Scotia
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84894961112&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-013-9785-9&partnerID=40&md5=b7ed04382123ef0e35bdb12daaa30043
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-013-9785-9
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 11
Original Language: English