Journal article
An oral health survey of the Lumbee tribe in southeastern North Carolina
Journal of dental hygiene, Vol.84(3), pp.137-144
2010
PMID: 20579426
Abstract
The Lumbee tribe, North Carolina's largest American Indian tribe, is located in Robeson County, where there is an access to dental care crisis. There is a high incidence of systemic diseases, including coronary heart disease (CHD) and diabetes. The tribe also has a higher rate of adverse pregnancy outcomes compared to Caucasian populations. There is little information available regarding the oral health of this population. The aim of this study was to evaluate access to dental care issues, oral health knowledge and oral health-related quality of life of the Lumbee tribe. A self-administered survey was developed to assess factors influencing access to dental care, oral health knowledge and oral health-related quality of life. The survey was administered to a convenience sample of 118 Lumbee Indians at the Lumbee Homecoming Festival in Pembroke, NC. Barriers to accessing dental care included being unable to leave work to find a dentist and cost of dental services. Many believed that it is natural to lose teeth as one ages. There was low oral health knowledge regarding oral and systemic health. Oral Health-related quality of life was affected. There was an association between poor access to dental care and poor oral health-related quality of life. Lumbee Indians reported barriers to accessing dental care. There was a significant relationship between difficulty accessing dental care and poor oral health-related quality of life.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- An oral health survey of the Lumbee tribe in southeastern North Carolina
- Creators
- Pamela L Wells - Department of Preventive & Community Dentistry, University of Iowa College of Dentistry, Iowa City, Iowa, USADaniel J CaplanRonald P StraussDanny BellMary George
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of dental hygiene, Vol.84(3), pp.137-144
- Publisher
- United States
- PMID
- 20579426
- ISSN
- 1553-0205
- eISSN
- 1553-0205
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 2010
- Academic Unit
- Preventive and Community Dentistry
- Record Identifier
- 9983917686202771
Metrics
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