ObjectiveAiming at preparing the basis for evidence-based dental public health policy making in Slovenia, the objective of the study was to assess the strength of association between oral health status measured by the number of missing teeth and self-rated health (SRH).MethodsThe study was designed as a pooled individual-level data study from four national cross-sectional studies carried out in the period 2001-2012, based on CINDI Health Monitor methodology. Altogether, 34,412 participants were included. A logistic regression model with poor SRH as observed outcome and the number of teeth as explanatory factor (adjusted for selected biologic, socio-economic and health factors) was proposed.ResultsIn the sample, women represented 55.7% and men 44.3%, median age was 45 years. Persons with more missing teeth more likely rated their health as poor. The association was persistent even when different confounding variables were included in the model. In the group with 1-5 missing teeth, in comparison to the group with none missing teeth, OR was 1.23 (p=0.049), whereas for the group with 6-10 missing teeth, OR was 1.32 (p=0.019); for the group with >10 missing teeth, but not all, OR was 1.77 (p<0.001), and for the group with all missing teeth, OR was 2.19 (p<0.001).Conclusions Study results showed clear association of SRH with dentate status, which confirms the oral-general health connection. This indicates the need for the development of proper dental public health policies for better oral health, and presents a new view on the importance of preserving teeth.
Introduction: Oral health is a part of general health. Problems with the oral cavity and/or teeth cause pain, discomfort and limitations in performing the function of the orofacial system and other daily tasks and reduce quality of life. Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) can be used to assess the impact of oral health on an individual's life, self-image, social interactions and work/school performance. Understanding the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of groups of individuals with poorer OHRQoL is crucial for the preparation of successful and effective public health approaches to improve and strengthen oral health. Methods: In the »National Survey on Oral Health of Children and Adolescents in Slovenia in 2019« we used a questionnaire with which we also monitored 6 indicators of OHRQoL. Questions related to difficulties with eating food, tense feelings, difficulties in carrying out school work, the presence of toothache, the presence of sores/ulcers and awkwardness due to the appearance of teeth. Children aged 6-17 were included in the study. In the group of children with poorer OHRQoL we included individuals that answered at least one question with occasionally or more often. Results: At least one OHRQoL limitation occurred occasionally or more often in 22.5% of participants. Painful gums/sores in the mouth were the most common (10.6%), 6.6% of children and adolescents were embarrassed because of the appearance of their teeth, 6.0% felt tense because of oral cavity/teeth problems, 5.5% had toothache, 4.8% experienced difficulties with eating food due to oral cavity/teeth problems and 4.1% had difficulties carrying out school work due to problems with their oral cavity/teeth. One or more limitations were more frequent in girls (girls 24.9%, boys 20.4%). At least one of the limitations was more common in children aged 6-7 (24.5%), the proportion decreased in the age group 8-10 (19.5%) and increased to 25.2% at age 15-17 years. The proportion of children and adolescents
Introduction:We present the results of the »National Survey on Oral Health of Children and Adolescents in Slovenia in 2019«, which established for the first time at the national level, the level of oral health care among children and adolescents. The aim of our study was to assess the state of oral health of children and adolescents and provide recommendations for its promotion. We report in more detail the results and findings related to oral hygiene and fluoride use. Methods: The target population were children and adolescents aged 0-17 years. The sample, representative for gender and age, included 3,200 children and adolescents (1% of this population in Slovenia). The survey was conducted using the EGOHID questionnaire. Data were weighted by gender and age. The distributions of proportions between different groups (by gender or age) and comparisons were analysed with the chisquare test and the CCP test to compare proportions between different groups. Results: Only 62% of children aged 0-5 regularly brushed their teeth (or were assisted by parents). The proportion of children who brushed their teeth regularly increased slightly after the age of 5, with 80% of children brushing their teeth regularly. On average, 20% of children/adolescents did not brush their teeth regularly between the ages of 6-10 and 11-17. Among adolescents aged 15-17, 91% of girls and only 66% of boys regularly brushed their teeth (hi-square test = 17.4, p <0.001; p <0.001). After the age of 4, the proportion of children whose parents helped clean their teeth decreased sharply, with 81% of 5-yearolds, 71% of 6-year-olds and 62% of 7-year-olds being helped. Only 30% of children before the age of 1 used fluoride-containing toothpaste. 66% of children/adolescents, aged 3-13, were expected to use fluoridecontaining toothpaste. After the age of 14, the proportion of adolescents who did not know if their toothpaste contained fluoride increased, and as many as 33% of adolescents stated that they did not use toothpaste that
Aim To analyse if body mass index (BMI) could be used as a fast proxy indicator of poor oral hygiene habits (POHH) among the adult population with diabetes mellitus. Methods Adults, aged 25-74, from the Slovenian 2016 nationwide cross-sectional survey based on the Countrywide Integrated Non-Communicable Disease Intervention (CINDI) Health Monitor methodology, who reported being diabetic, were included in the study (n=560). We assessed the relationship between POHH and BMI, adjusted to confounders, using multiple binary logistic regression. Results In the total sample, the POHH prevalence was 50.9%. Taking into account BMI, POHH prevalence in participants with normal BMI values was only 37.8%, in the overweight group it was 1.22-times higher (46.0%), while in the obese group it was 1.63-times higher (61.6%) (p<0.001). Also, the odds for POHH were 2.64-times higher in the obese group in comparison to the normal BMI group (95% CI: 1.55-4.51; p<0.001). After adjustment for confounders, this OR decreased only moderately (OR=2.45; 95% CI: 1.35-4.44; p=0.003). Conclusions BMI could be used as a readily assessable, fast, simple, and cheap tool indicating higher odds for having POHH among the diabetic population. By defining the high-risk group it could be easier for physicians and dentists to take further referrals and actions for promoting oral health in this group. The suggested tool can save time and could have an important positive impact on the quality of life of diabetics, as well as on health expenditures.
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