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J Am Dent Assoc, Vol 137, No 2, 224-234.
© 2006 American Dental Association |
TRENDS |
| ABSTRACT |
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Methods. The authors examined data on 13,227 dentate people aged 20 to 79 years from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III). Information was collected information on sociodemographic characteristics, cigarette smoking, perceived dental treatment needs and other factors during a home interview, and clinical oral health information was collected at a mobile examination center.
Results. In univariate analyses, current smokers were more likely than nonsmokers to perceive dental needs in all categories, except for the need for a dental cleaning. Multivariate regression results indicate that current smokers were more likely to report a need for periodontal treatment and dental extractions compared with nonsmokers (odds ratio [OR] = 1.40; 95 percent confidence interval [CI] = 1.051.87 and OR = 1.61; 95 percent CI = 1.222.14, respectively). The authors found an interaction between smoking and race/ethnicity in models describing the need for teeth to be filled/replaced and for orthodontic/cosmetic work.
Conclusions. Current smokers were more likely to have more perceived dental needs compared with nonsmokers.
Practice Implications. These results may be important for the advancement of efforts directed toward tobacco-use cessation programs and to understand factors that could affect dental care utilization.
Key Words: Perceived dental treatment needs; tobacco use; NHANES III
Although the prevalence of cigarette smoking in the United States has declined by nearly one-half since 1965,1 the public health burden of smoking remains extensive. Smoking causes serious illness among 8.6 million Americans and approximately 440,000 deaths each year.2 Moreover, nearly 5 percent of infant deaths in the United States may be attributable to maternal smoking.3
General health risk factors such as tobacco use can affect oral health. Smoking is a known risk factor for oral disease, such as oral cancer and periodontal disease.411 Maternal smoking may be associated with oral clefts,12 and Aligne and colleagues13 have suggested that passive smoking is associated with pediatric dental caries. Although tobacco use can significantly affect oral health status, little is known regarding the influence of smoking on the self-assessed need to seek dental care.
Among many factors that affect the use of dental services, perceived dental need is an important factor.14,15 Perceived dental treatment needs often differ from dentists treatment recommendations.16,17 In addition, perceived needs, when influenced by symptomatic experiences, have a greater effect on predicting dental care utilization.1820 Gift and colleagues21 reported that perceived treatment needs were associated significantly with a lower self-rating of overall dental health, whereas perceived needs for preventive dental care were not. People with lower self-rated dental health status are less likely to seek any type of dental care,20 and episodic, problem-driven dental care users are more likely to use tobacco and to rate themselves at a lower health status.22
Although factors affecting a perceived need for dental care have been evaluated in a variety of populations, the relationship between smoking status and perceived dental treatment needs has not been analyzed sufficiently. For instance, it is known that smokers are more likely to report oral health problems such as bleeding or receding gingivae, staining and mouth sores,23 but it is not well-understood whether smokers are more likely to report other dentally related problems or needs compared with nonsmokers.
Our objective was to assess the role of smoking status along with sociodemographic, clinical and other behavioral factors in the prediction of perceived dental treatment needs in a cross-sectional study of adults in the United States.
Our analyses used data obtained from the household interview questionnaire and a standardized oral health examination. Trained interviewers administered the interview questionnaire orally in the sampled participants homes, and trained dentists conducted the dental examinations in a mobile examination center (MEC). Detailed descriptions about NHANES III oral health component procedures, quality control and measurement issues are described elsewhere.25,27,28
We identified 20,050 adults who completed a home interview and excluded 3,057 people who were younger than 20 years or older than 79 years. From this group, we excluded 1,662 people who did not complete an MEC examination (which included physical examinations, dental examinations and other measures) and 402 people who did not complete the dental examination component of the MEC examination. We then excluded 1,426 people who were identified as edentulous and 276 people for whom complete perceived dental treatment needs information was not available. This yielded an analytical sample of 13,227 dentate adults aged 20 to 79 years.
Outcome variables.
We used six variables describing perceived dental treatment needs. Each of these variables was derived from six possible responses to the question, "What type of dental care do you need now?" We used information regarding perceived treatment needs to create the following outcome variables:
We derived the outcome variable "need for orthodontic or cosmetic work" from the response need "work to improve appearance"24 (Box
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SUBJECTS AND METHODS
TOP
ABSTRACT
SUBJECTS AND METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
CONCLUSION
REFERENCES
We obtained data from 13,227 adults who participated in the Third National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES III), 19881994.24 This survey was conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and it applied a complex, stratified, multistage probability design to produce a nationally representative sample for the noninstitutionalized civilian population of the United States. Mexican-Americans, non-Hispanic blacks and people who were younger than 6 years or older than 60 years were oversampled in NHANES III. Details of the sample design and informed consent methods have been described elsewhere.25,26
). Because the question about perceived dental needs was structured to capture possible multiple answers, participants were able to report several needs. We coded all responses of "dont know" as missing information.
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Data analysis. We performed all statistical analyses using statistical software (SUDAAN version 7.5, Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, N.C.).30 We used sample weights to account for the unequal probability of selection and nonresponse of the study participants to produce prevalence estimates and related standard errors, as well as in the calculation of odds ratios (ORs) and 95 percent confidence intervals (CIs). In univariate analyses, we used paired t tests to assess potential differences for the outcome variable (that is, perceived dental treatment needs) within categories. We set statistical significance at P < .05.
Using logistic regression models, we calculated crude and adjusted ORs with 95 percent CIs. We used each of the six dependent variables in separate modeling processes. All independent variables were modeled as categorical variables, as previously described. We used multivariate nonautomated step-wise regression modeling to assess relationships between the covariates. We set an a priori standard for retaining variables to produce the most parsimonious model using a Satterthwaite-adjusted F statistic of P < .05. We assessed potential interactions throughout the modeling process and determined significance when the overall product term had a P < .05.
| RESULTS |
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Table 3
(page 230) shows logistic regression results for each perceived dental need. Being a current cigarette smoker was independently associated with the perceived need for dental extractions (OR = 1.61; 95 percent CI = 1.22 to 2.14) and periodontal treatment (OR = 1.40; 95 percent CI = 1.05 to 1.87), but it was not associated with the perceived need for a dental cleaning or relief from dental pain. However, smoking status did produce a significant interaction with race/ethnicity for the perceived needs of having teeth filled or replaced and orthodontic/cosmetic work.
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Because we found significant interactions, additional analyses were required to better understand how the interactions affected some of the perceived treatment needs. Table 4
(page 231) shows the results of these perceived treatment needs outcomes stratified by race/ethnicity. Being a current smoker was predictive in some models that described the perceived need for teeth to be filled or replaced and for orthodontic/cosmetic work. Non-Hispanic white current smokers were more likely to perceive a need to have teeth filled or replaced (OR = 1.49, 95 percent CI = 1.22 to 1.81) and for orthodontic/cosmetic work (OR = 1.86, 95 percent CI = 1.37 to 2.52) compared with non-Hispanic white nonsmokers. Furthermore, Mexican-American smokers were more likely to report a perceived need for orthodontic/cosmetic work compared with Mexican-American nonsmokers (OR = 1.43; 95 percent CI = 1.09 to 1.87).
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| DISCUSSION |
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Patton and colleagues31 recently reported the results of a study of racial/ethnic variance in perceived dental treatment needs among patients with HIV/AIDS. Their study examined the perceived need for dental restorations and extractions, but not for periodontal treatment. Our findings suggest that smoking status does influence the perceived need for dental restorations, but only among non-Hispanic whites. However, non-Hispanic blacks were more likely than non-Hispanic whites to report a perceived need for dental extractions, regardless of smoking status. Our findings also indicate that being Mexican-American was independently associated with the perceived need for periodontal treatment, but the strength of the association was weak, indicating that being non-Hispanic black was independently associated with the perceived need for receiving periodontal treatment.
Interactions involving race/ethnicity. The presence of interactions involving race/ethnicity in the regression models describing three perceived dental needs (teeth filled/replaced, dental cleaning and orthodontic/cosmetic work) is an important finding. When we exclude the need for a dental cleaning, the influence of smoking on the remaining two perceived dental needs varied across racial/ethnic groups but only among current cigarette smokers. For instance, among non-Hispanic whites, current smokers were more likely than those who never smoked to perceive a need to have teeth filled or replaced or for orthodontic/cosmetic work. However, this smoking relationship existed among Mexican-Americans only with regard to the perceived need for orthodontic/cosmetic work, and it did not exist among non-Hispanic blacks with regard to the perceived need to have teeth filled or replaced or for orthodontic/cosmetic work.
These findings suggest that smoking and cultural influences may significantly affect the decision-making processes involved in rationalizing the need for care, thus affecting dental care utilization. Variations in cigarette smoking within racial/ethnic populations in the United States may be influenced by varying levels of acculturation and exposure to media messages.32 Our findings may be the result of a complex commingling of many factors such as affordability of cigarettes and susceptibility to advertising, as well as lifestyle and community values.
Since the landmark surgeon generals report on smoking and health in 196433 and the more recent surgeon generals report on the health consequences of smoking,6 an abundance of additional information has emerged that demonstrates a relationship between smoking and poor oral health status. However, information regarding the effects of smoking on self-assessed oral health status and dental needs is scarce.
Our findings suggest that cigarette smoking is associated with some perceptions of dental needs that are independent of poor oral health status, particularly the need for periodontal treatment and extractions, as well as the need to have teeth filled or replaced. Poor dental and general health behaviors are predisposing factors for poor oral health and overall health.34 Because a strong correlation exists between the perceived need for dental care and perceptions of general health status21 and because people do perceive that oral health affects their overall quality of life,35 addressing unmet perceived dental needs could affect patients quality of life.
Improving periodontal health. Improving periodontal health could have a significant impact on improving the quality of life for many Americans. For instance, the most recent surgeon generals report on smoking states that sufficient evidence exists to infer a causal relationship between smoking and periodontitis.6 Furthermore, current cigarette smokers are about four times as likely to have periodontitis compared with nonsmokers, and approximately 42 percent of cases of periodontitis in the United States most likely are attributed to current smoking.10
Our findings suggest that smokers were only slightly more likely to perceive a need for periodontal treatment (OR = 1.40, 95 percent CI = 1.05 to 1.87) compared with nonsmokers, independent of clinical oral health status. In addition, the findings show no relationship between smoking and a perceived need for a dental cleaning. This suggests that a renewed public health effort directed toward periodontal disease awareness and tobacco use is needed.
Tobacco use, alcohol use or both remain the major risk factors for oral cancer, particularly among people 45 years and older who have been diagnosed with oral squamous cell carcinoma.36,37 Not only is cancer of the oral cavity one of the 10 leading cancers in men, a significant disparity in five-year survival rates exists between racial/ethnic groups (60 percent for non-Hispanic whites and 36 percent for blacks).38 In addition, smokers are less likely than nonsmokers to visit a dentist, and this may decrease their opportunities for being diagnosed at an earlier disease stage.39,40
In a study that used a portion of NHANES III data, Gift and colleagues21 reported that a strong relationship existed between the frequency of dental visits and perceived dental treatment needs. However, our findings indicate that this relationship is not consistent across the varying types of perceived dental treatment needs examined. For instance, not having had a dental visit in the previous 12 months was associated with the perceived need for a dental cleaning only among non-Hispanic whites. People acting on the perception of a need for a cleaning may be more likely to receive an oral cancer screening as part of a dental checkup or preventive appointment than those seeking treatment for a more specific issue such as pain relief or the need for a dental filling or an extraction. This may help us better understand why racial/ethnic disparities in the prevalence of oral cancer exist and the importance of developing effective public health interventions that lead to increased utilization of dental care and, possibly, earlier detection of cancerous lesions.
Tobacco-use cessation activities. The CDC has highlighted tobacco control activities as a critical element in the effort to reduce oral and pharyngeal cancers.41 The American Dental Association has promoted smoking prevention activities in the dental office,42 and dental professionals have been encouraged to promote tobacco-use cessation and to treat tobacco dependence.43,44 Moreover, many dental patients have expressed their belief in surveys that dentists should actively encourage smoking cessation.45
Nevertheless, many dental providers continue to perceive barriers to implementing smoking-cessation activities, such as a lack of time and reimbursement mechanisms, low confidence in the chance of achieving success, as well as expected patient resistance.46 Overcoming these barriers and identifying best practices are important for increasing the numbers of smokers who quit. Given that an effective smoking-cessation program in dental practices could realize a quit rate of at least 2 percent,47 it is conceivable that tens of thousands of people in the United States could stop smoking each year if all dentists were to actively encourage smoking cessation.
Targeting messages to smokers. Understanding the relationship between perceived dental needs and smoking could improve opportunities to design and deliver tobacco-use cessation messages that are more meaningful to targeted people. Most smoking-cessation activities are offered during the dental hygiene appointment, which is used less by problem-oriented dental care users. Because problem-driven dental care users are more likely to smoke22 and smokers are more likely to have a perceived need for dental extractions, developing a smoking-cessation message that can be integrated into the dental visit in which an extraction is performed may resonate better with smokers.
If the goal of any smoking intervention program is to reach more smokers, tobacco-use cessation activities should be part of other treatment-oriented appointments as well. Our findings also suggest that some smokers are more likely to perceive a need for orthodontic/cosmetic dental work compared with nonsmokers. Tobacco-use cessation messages targeted toward non-Hispanic white and Mexican-American smokers and delivered by orthodontists or dental providers specializing in cosmetic dentistry may offer another key opportunity to deliver a targeted smoking-cessation message in dental practice.
Study limitations and strengths. This study investigated smoking status as a predictor of various perceived dental needs. One limitation of our study was its inability to assess the direct impact that smoking cessation may have on perceived dental needs independent of other covariates measured (such as receiving routine dental care). Moreover, a cross-sectional study design does not permit a definitive evaluation of causality or temporal relationships. One strength of our study was the use of a nationally representative sample not selected by potentially confounding factors. Another was not aggregating a variety of perceived needs into one general category, such as clinical needs (for example, a composite variable consisting of the need to have teeth filled/replaced or extracted, as well as the need for periodontal treatment).
| CONCLUSION |
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These findings are important for dental health professionals, researchers and public health policy-makers. Recognizing influential predictors of perceived dental needs may improve our understanding of factors that motivate people to seek dental care and can assist in planning tobacco-use cessation programs for communities and individual patients. These findings add to our expanding knowledge linking smoking with lower oral health awareness and perceived dental problems. By helping patients understand the association between smoking and perceived dental needs, dentists and hygienists can provide additional encouragement to refrain from using tobacco products.
| FOOTNOTES |
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