Socioeconomic Disparities in Iranians' Preferences toward Dental Care Services: A Population-Based Survey.

Background and Aims: Patients' perspectives and preferences are considered an essential influencing factor for healthcare utilization. This study is one of the first to investigate patient preference for dental services across socioeconomic and demographic indicators in Iran. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted through telephone interviews with adult residents in Mashhad and Kerman cities. A representative sample was selected by stratified random sampling. A valid structured questionnaire was used for data collection, including people's preference toward dental care services in terms of dental settings, choosing a general or specialist dentist, prevention or treatment, and the preferable gender of the dentist. Factors potentially associated with preferences included gender, age, educational level, job, monthly income, house size, family number, insurance coverage, dental insurance, type of insurance, and social class in the city were investigated. Results: 1475 individuals participated in the study [response rate 63%]. Our findings showed higher preferences for private offices (50.6%), specialist dentists (76.2%), treatment services (40.8%), and no specific gender preference for the dentist (60.6%). Their preferences were significantly influenced by age range, social class, insurance status, dental insurance, and type of insurance. Income, household size, level of education, and job were not statistically significant with none of the preferences. Conclusions: Socioeconomic and demographic factors' correlation with people's preferences was observed. Efforts are needed to promote preventive care demand in deprived regions. Moreover, increasing financial resources allocated to preventive care and covering preventive dental services in insurance plans are recommended.

Meal patterns and the quality of breakfast and snacks in relation to adolescents' dental health in southeast of Iran.

Aim: The objective was to determine the frequency pattern and nutritional quality of breakfast and snacks in Iranian adolescents and to investigate these dietary habits in relation to tooth decay and tooth erosion. Methods: A multistage cluster random sampling method was adopted to recruit 600 adolescents with equal sex distribution in the city of Kerman/southeast of Iran. Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth (DMFT) and Tooth Wear Index (TWI) were recorded for each subject. Snacking and breakfast quality, frequency of snacking and regular/irregular use of main meals were also recorded. Poisson regression and Firth's bias-reduced penalized-likelihood logistic regression were used for data analysis. Results: DMFT score of adolescents who consumed low-quality snacks were 1.13 times more than those who consumed high-quality snacks. Regular use of all three main meals was associated with a lower DMFT score. DMFT score of adolescents who did not have regular use of breakfast was 1.19 times more than those who consumed breakfast on a regular basis. Also, regarding adolescents who had an irregular use of lunch, the DMFT score was 1.3 times more than those who had a regular lunch schedule. In addition, participants with irregular dinner consumption had 1.24 times more DMFT scores compared to those with a regular dinner schedule. Conclusions: Regular breakfast consumption, decreased snacking occasions, use of higher nutritional quality snacks, and increased nutritional education are important in order to prevent a higher chance of dental caries and promote dental health status.

Inequalities in Unmet Oral Health Care Need Among Adults in East Iran, a Cross Sectional Population-Based Study.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM: Need assessment is considered as a key element of health care planning. Subjective measures can be useful tools in epidemiologic surveillances. PURPOSE: The aim of study was to evaluate inequality in perceived unmet oral health need (PUOHN) in adults in east of Iran. MATERIALS AND METHOD: In this cross-sectional population-based study, the target population included adult residents in the Mashhad and Kerman city. Data was collected through telephone interviews using a validated structured questionnaire. Phone numbers were obtained from telecommunication company. Participants were selected by stratified random sampling. Predisposing and enabling variables associated with PUOHN were included gender, age, educational level, job, insurance coverage, dental insurance, type of insurance, residential location, household size, and family economic indicators. Logistic regression was used to examine association of PUOHN and predisposing and enabling factors. RESULTS: 1475 individuals participated in the study (response rate of 63%). 52% of participants stated that their dental needs have not been met during the past year. The mean ages of respondents were 39 years old and 69.8% were female. Logistic regression analyses indicated living in rental house [OR=2 (95% CI 1.25-3.21), p Value=0.004] and higher household size [OR=1.19(95% CI 1.003-1.43), p= 0.04] significantly associated with PUOHN. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicated high PUOHN in the adult population of East Iran. Effective strategies must be implemented to provide accessible dental services regardless of socioeconomic status.

The association between beverage consumption pattern and dental problems in Iranian adolescents: a cross sectional study.

BACKGROUND: With regard to the increasing consumption rates of unhealthy beverages among adolescents, the main purpose of the present study was to determine the association between beverage intake pattern and dental caries and tooth erosion in this age group. METHODS: A total sample of 600 adolescents was recruited in this study using a multistage cluster random sampling method in the city of Kerman, in the southeast of Iran, in 2017. Then, the Decayed, Missed and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index and the Tooth Wear Index (TWI) were registered for each participant. A Beverage Frequency Questionnaire was also employed to estimate typical beverage intake frequency. Correspondingly, negative binominal regression and logistic regression were performed to determine the independent variables associated with the DMFT index and the TWI. RESULTS: The findings revealed that the highest consumed beverage in daily living was tea in both genders, followed by sweetened soft beverages, as well as milk and kefir/yogurt drink. The results of the DMFT index were also significantly different in participants that had never consumed milk compared with those who had used milk on a daily basis. Moreover, the DMFT index in participants who had never consumed sweetened soft beverages was 39%, less than those who had had a daily intake of such beverages. Also, the chance of tooth erosion for participants who had never used sweetened soft beverages was 94%, lower than that in daily consumers. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study revealed that adolescents had an unhealthy beverage intake pattern. Furthermore, milk consumption was beneficial to dental caries, whereas use of soft drinks associated with more dental caries and tooth erosion.

Association of oral health and cardiovascular disease risk factors "results from a community based study on 5900 adult subjects".

Objectives. This study aimed to determine the association between some oral health status as a risk factor for cardiac diseases and other cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in a sample of Iranian population in 2011. Methods. The study recruited 5900 inhabitants who aged 15-75 years old of Kerman city through a population based cluster sampling. Having collected informed consent, participants were interviewed for CVD risk factors. Some oral health indicators such as DMFT, Gingival Inflammation index, and Community Periodontal Index were assessed. The association between oral health indices and CVD risk factors was tested using multivariate regression models. Results. The mean age of participants was 33.5 years, and 45.1% were male. Moderate gingival inflammation was observed in 67.6% of participants. Presence of sub- or supragingival calculus was more common (90%) in participants. Older age (RR from 2.7 to 3.88), cigarette smoking (RR = 1.49), and high blood glucose (RR = 1.41) showed an increased risk for oral diseases after adjustment for different covariates including established CVD risk factors. Conclusion. The study results showed an increase in periodontal diseases in the presence of some CVD risk factors. Therefore there may be a bilateral but independent association for both conditions and common risk factor approach preventive program is highly recommended.

Oral health behavior of parents as a predictor of oral health status of their children.

Introduction. It is widely acknowledged that the behavior of parents affects their children's health. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between oral health behavior of parents and oral health status and behavior of their children in a sample of preschool children in Iran. Method and Material. A random sample of over-five-year-old preschool children and their parents were enrolled in the study. Selection of schools was by clustering method. Parents were asked to fill a piloted questionnaire which included demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, oral health behaviors of children and their parents. Oral health status of children was examined. The parent and their children oral health relationship were tested using regression and correlation analysis. Results. About 222 parents and children participated in the study. There was a significant relationship between history of having dental problems in parents and dmft index in their children (P = 0.01). There was a significant relationship between parental frequency of tooth brushing and child frequency of tooth brushing (P = 0.05); however, there was no significant relationship between parental frequency of dental visits and those of their children (P = 0.1). Conclusion. The study concluded that some important health behaviors in parents, such as tooth brushing habits are important determinants of these behaviors in their young children. So promoting parent knowledge and attitude could affect their children oral health behavior and status.

Integrating oral health care into primary health care system.

Introduction. Systematic evaluation is an integral part of the organization and delivery of community oral health care programmes, ensuring the effectiveness of these community-based interventions. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and practice of primary health care (PHC) personnel regarding their duties toward oral health. Methods and Material. A cross-sectional study was carried out among three groups of PHC personnel in the city of Kerman (Iran). Volunteer personnel completed a piloted questionnaire which included demographic data, some question regarding their knowledge about oral health, their duties and also their practice regarding public oral health. All data were analyzed using chi-square and Pearson correlation test. Results. One hundred and fifty-seven out of 225 eligible personnel participated in the study. Sixty percent were auxiliary health workers (Behvarz). All personnel had a good level of knowledge regarding oral health. Despite significant differences among the knowledge of the personnel toward oral health, there was no significant difference between their knowledge related to their duties regarding oral health. The auxiliary health worker group had a higher rate (45.6%) for better public oral health practice. Conclusion. The study showed the personnel have good knowledge of their duties regarding oral health. However, their practice is not in line with their knowledge and needs more attention.