International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume 16, Issue 16, 2019

Periodontal health and use of oral health services: A comparison of germans and two migrant groups (Article) (Open Access)

Hagenfeld D. , Zimmermann H. , Korb K. , El-Sayed N. , Fricke J. , Greiser K.H. , Kühnisch J. , Linseisen J. , Meisinger C. , Schmitter M. , Kim T.-S. , Becher H.*
  • a Section of Periodontology, Department of Conservative Dentistry, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, 69120, Germany, Department of Periodontology and Restorative Dentistry, University-Hospital of Münster, Münster, 48149, Germany
  • b Institute of Global Health, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, 69120, Germany
  • c Department of Orthodontics, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, 69120, Germany
  • d Section of Periodontology, Department of Conservative Dentistry, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, 69120, Germany
  • e Division of Cancer Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, 69120, Germany, Institute for Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, 10117, Germany
  • f Division of Cancer Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, 69120, Germany
  • g Department of Conservative Dentistry and Periodontology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, München, 80336, Germany
  • h German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Epidemiology II, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, D-85764, Germany
  • i German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Epidemiology II, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, D-85764, Germany
  • j Department of Prosthodontics, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, 97070, Germany
  • k Section of Periodontology, Department of Conservative Dentistry, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, 69120, Germany
  • l Institute of Global Health, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, 69120, Germany, Institute for Medical Biometry and Epidemiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, 20246, Germany

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was performed with 251 individuals, consisting of 127 Germans, 68 migrants from Turkey, and 56 resettlers (migrants from the former Soviet Union with German ancestors) to compare periodontal health status, with a special focus on associations with lifestyle and anthropometric factors, and use of dental health services. Maximal pocket depth was used as a clinical surrogate marker for periodontitis. Other variables were obtained by questionnaires administered by a Turkish or Russian interpreter. The age- and sex-adjusted prevalence of periodontitis was significantly higher in Turks (odds ratio (OR) 2.84, 95% CI = 1.53–5.26) and slightly higher in resettlers (OR = 1.33, 95% CI = 0.71–2.49). These differences are partly explained by a differential distribution of known risk factors for periodontitis. A full model showed a higher prevalence of maximal pocket depth above 5 mm in Turks (OR = 1.97, 95% CI = 0.99–3.92). Use of oral health services was significantly lower in the two migrant groups. Individuals who reported regular visits to a dentist had significantly less periodontitis, independent of migrant status. A reasonable conclusion is that, since oral health causes major chronic diseases and has a major effect on total health system expenditures, public health efforts both generally and specifically focused on migrant groups are warranted, © 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Author Keywords

Dental health care Periodontitis Oral health Migrants

Index Keywords

Germany lifestyle dental health Oral Health anthropometric parameters independent variable human controlled study Turkey (republic) German (citizen) health status comparative study periodontitis Aged migrants experience dental procedure cross-sectional study migrant male periodontal disease assessment maximal pocket depth female risk factor questionnaire health services prevalence Turk (people) Article health care major clinical study adult Turkey Russian (citizen) Turkish citizen disease marker public health
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85071544902&doi=10.3390%2fijerph16163000&partnerID=40&md5=6c5a3edd67e7afa8c006eac0502d8dce
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16163000
ISSN: 16617827
Original Language: English