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Dental status and oral health quality of life in economically disadvantaged French adults
Author(s) -
TubertJeannin Stéphanie,
Riordan Paul J.,
MorelPapernot Annick,
Moulin Roland
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
special care in dentistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.328
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1754-4505
pISSN - 0275-1879
DOI - 10.1111/j.1754-4505.2004.tb01704.x
Subject(s) - medicine , disadvantaged , oral health , dental care , dental insurance , health insurance , family medicine , quality of life (healthcare) , agency (philosophy) , health care , gerontology , oral health care , environmental health , nursing , philosophy , epistemology , political science , law , economics , economic growth
ABSTRACT Expansion of French health insurance coverage has increased funding for dental care for economically disadvantaged adults. This study aimed to measure clinical and self‐perceived oral health, behaviors, and use of dental services by adults who were eligible for such coverage. The regional agency that gives administrative services for the health insurance funds provided a sample of 900 adults aged 35–44 years, insured through this program. We reached 805 of these adults by mail; of these 18% were surveyed and clinically examined. Self‐perceived oral health was measured by the Global Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) and participants' attitudes to dental health, by questionnaire. Decayed and Missing teeth constituted 40% of the DMFT. Participants reported poor oral health (63%), and 79% perceived a need for care, although they used dental services infrequently and had poor knowledge of available services. Cost of care and number of carious teeth were important predictors of the GOHAI.