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The oral health of homeless adolescents and young adults and determinants of oral health: preliminary findings
Author(s) -
Chi Donald,
Milgrom Peter
Publication year - 2008
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.1754-4505.2008.00046.x
Subject(s) - toothache , medicine , oral health , dental care , young adult , dental health , community health center , family medicine , oral health care , gerontology , dentistry
A survey was administered to 55 homeless adolescents and young adults aged 14 to 28 years who presented for care at a community health center in Seattle, Washington in 2005. Forty‐five valid surveys were analyzed. The aim of the study was to identify factors associated with self‐reported oral health. The most common self‐reported dental problem was sensitive teeth (52.6%), followed by discolored teeth (48.6%), toothache (38.5%), or a broken tooth (37.8%). Dental problems were associated with lower self‐reported oral health, while non‐high school graduates, mixed race youths, and methamphetamine users had significantly higher self‐reported oral health. Among homeless youths, addressing dental problems with direct dental care may improve self‐perceived oral health. The relationships between methamphetamine use and education level, on the one hand, and self‐reported oral health, on the other, are complex and may be modified by age.