Oral health status in relation to socioeconomic and ethnic characteristics of urban adults in the U.S.A.

Nearly 1,300 adult members of a prepaid medical group plan in New York City were screened through automated multiphasic health testing in a series of test stations including a dental station, during 1971-1973. Oral status indicators were developed including a number of missing teeth, scores to measure levels of gingival and periodontal disease, Simplified Oral Hygiene Index scores, and ratios of decayed teeth. Ratios of filled teeth were calculated to measure levels of restorative care. The present paper examines the interrelationships of economic status, education and ethnic origin with each of the above oral status measures. It was found that variations in ratios of decayed and of filled teeth were primarily due to economic status while variations in a number of missing teeth, oral hygiene levels and levels of gingival and periodontal diseases were primarily due to screenees' educational level. Ethnic group differences could be explained in part by differences among these groups in economic and and educational levels. There were no consistent ethnic patterns, however, and while some differences could be explained by controlling for education and economic status, others persisted.