Oral Health Status of the Refugee Population in Utah

Objectives: To identify the oral health status and treatment needs within the refugee population in Utah
Methods: Approval from the University of Utah Institutional Review Board (IRB) was obtained prior to the implementation of this project. 103 participants were recruited through partnerships with partner resettlement agencies. Participants completed a survey regarding demographic characteristics, oral health behaviors, oral health service utilization, oral health knowledge, and self-reported oral health status. The participants’ oral health status and treatment needs were evaluated using DMFT and CPI indexes. The data were compiled in REDCap and analyzed using STATA version 14.2 (Stata Corporation, College Station, Texas).
Results: Although participants overall self-reported a good oral health status, clinical findings revealed pervasive oral health concerns. 86% of participants had at least one site of untreated decay. On average, participants had 6 teeth with untreated decay. Nearly three-fourths of participants exhibited gingival bleeding (72.3%), while 50.5% had shallow periodontal pockets (4-5 mm) and 31.7% had deep pockets (6 mm or more). All participants were evaluated to be in need of treatment. Approximately 36% required prompt treatment, while 43.7% were evaluated to require urgent treatment due to pain or infection
Conclusions: The discrepancy between the participants’ moderately high levels of self-reported oral health and the clinical exam findings suggests a lack of education regarding oral health among this refugee population. his population requires urgent dental treatment but is lacking access to dental services.This study also suggests that this population would benefit from education on the early signs and symptoms of oral health disease.