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. 2016 Dec;66(6):350-355.
doi: 10.1111/idj.12248. Epub 2016 Jul 18.

Differentiation of self-rated oral health between American non-citizens and citizens

Ying Liu  1
Affiliations

Differentiation of self-rated oral health between American non-citizens and citizens

Ying Liu. Int Dent J. 2016 Dec.

Abstract

Background: Oral health disparities exist in the USA. However, little is known of the relationship between oral health disparity and citizenship. The aims of this study were: (i) to describe the differences in self-rated oral health (SROH) between adult American citizens and non-citizens (>20 years of age); and (ii) to test whether factors such as frequency of dentist visits and socio-economic status (SES) are differently associated with SROH in these two groups.

Methods: The data used in this study were drawn from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted in 2011-2012. Weighted logistic regression models were used to detect the strengths of the association between a series of predictors and SROH.

Results: More non-citizens (59.54%) than their citizen peers (26.24%) rated their oral health as fair/bad. All factors analysed in this study were differently associated with SROH based on citizenship. More specifically, natural characteristics, such as ethnicity and age, were significantly associated with SROH among non-citizens, and SES was significantly associated with American citizens. Among non-citizens, Hispanic, Non-Hispanic Black and Asian subjects were more likely than Non-Hispanic White subjects to report their oral health as being 'good'. Family poverty level, education and the frequency of dentist visits were significantly associated with SROH among citizens.

Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that American immigrants report their oral health across most dimensions as being worse than do American citizens. Each explanatory factor may have a different strength of association with SROH in immigrants and citizens, which implies that different steps should be taken within these groups to reduce disparities in oral health.

Keywords: Self-rated oral health; citizenship; logistic regression; oral health disparities.

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