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Association between education level and dentition status in Japanese adults: J apan public health center‐based oral health study
Author(s) -
Ueno Masayuki,
Ohara Satoko,
Inoue Manami,
Tsugane Shoichiro,
Kawaguchi Yoko
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
community dentistry and oral epidemiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.061
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1600-0528
pISSN - 0301-5661
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0528.2012.00697.x
Subject(s) - dentition , medicine , dentistry , confounding , oral health , public health , gerontology , demography , nursing , pathology , sociology
Objectives The aim of this study was to examine whether there is an educational gradient in dentition status among Japanese adults who are under the universal public health insurance system. Methods Subjects were 1201 community residents aged 55–75 years as of M ay 2005 who completed a self‐administered questionnaire and had a standard clinical oral examination. Analysis focused on the association of three education levels (junior high school, senior high school, and any college or higher education) with dentition status. Results The proportion of subjects with 20 or more teeth ( P < 0.001), number of teeth present ( P = 0.037), number of filled teeth ( P = 0.016), and two types of functional tooth units ( FTU s): FTU s with natural teeth (n‐ FTU s) ( P < 0.001) and FTU s with natural teeth and artificial teeth on implant‐supported and fixed prostheses (nif‐ FTU s) ( P < 0.001) were significantly associated with education level after adjusting for confounders. The significant trend of these values in dental indexes indicated a poorer dentition status with a lower education level. Conclusions The results suggest that the level of education has an independent impact on dentition status in a group of Japanese adults, even after taking into account oral health‐related factors. Therefore, providing appropriate oral health information from an early age within a compulsory school education program appears necessary to enhance health literacy and lessen the inequalities in dental health by educational level.