Association of Recovery from Oral Disadvantage due to Disease with SES and Dental Services

Objective: To quantify the association between recovery from oral disadvantage due to disease (RODD) and incident use of dental services. Methods: The prospective longitudinal Florida Dental Care Study included 873 individuals 45+ years old with at least one tooth. We evaluated 6, 12, 18 and 24 month interview data. RODD was defined as no longer reporting: (a) avoiding laughing or smiling because of unattractive teeth or gums; or (b) avoiding talking to someone because of unattractive teeth or gums or bad breath; or (c) embarrassed by the appearance or bad health of teeth or gums, when the previous interval included a report of oral disadvantage due to disease (ODD). Univariable and multivariable logistic regression modeling quantified associations between dental services and RODD. Results: Individuals with ODD who were regular dental attenders (OR = 2.4; 95%CI=1.1-5.1), higher socioeconomic status (SES) with income over $20,000 (OR = 2.8; 95%CI=1.2-6.4), dental visit (OR = 3.9; 95%CI=2.4-6.4), denture visit (OR = 3.9; 95%CI=1.1-14.0), extraction (OR = 4.3; 95%CI=1.8-10.1), cleaning (OR = 3.2; 95%CI=1.4-6.9), or checkup (OR = 2.2; 95%CI=1.1-4.4) were more likely to have RODD. Univariable results were not statistically significant for age, race or gender, nor for having a filling, fixed prosthodontics, root canal, or surgery. After adjusting for SES, participants having a dental visit (OR = 3.9; 95%CI=2.4-6.5), denture visit (OR = 4.6; 95%CI=1.1-18.7), extraction (OR = 4.5; 95%CI=1.8-11.3), or cleaning (OR = 2.7; 95%CI=1.2-5.9), were more likely to have RODD. Approach to dental care and checkup were no longer predictors of RODD, after adjusting for SES. Conclusion: These results support a positive association between RODD and SES. Other SES-adjusting predictors of RODD include having a dental visit, specifically a denture visit, extraction or cleaning. Support: DE12457, DE11020, DE14164.