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The oral health of homeless adolescents and young adults and determinants of oral health: preliminary findings
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

The oral health of homeless adolescents and young adults and determinants of oral health: preliminary findings

Donald Chi and Peter Milgrom
Special care in dentistry, Vol.28(6), pp.237-242
11/01/2008
DOI: 10.1111/j.1754-4505.2008.00046.x
PMCID: PMC2906228
PMID: 19068064
url
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/2906228View
Open Access

Abstract

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.
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine Life Sciences & Biomedicine Science & Technology

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