The oral health of minority ethnic communities in the United Kingdom.
The oral health status of minority ethnic groups is a critical issue for practitioners in today's multicultural society. The National Dental Health survey, conducted by the OPCS, provides baseline information on the oral health and oral health related behaviour of the population in the United Kingdom but not specifically relating to the minority ethnic communities. To date, little is known concerning oral health status and self-reported oral health related behaviours among minority ethnic communities in this country. Following a review of the published literature, this paper will address two questions: how has ethnicity been used as a variable by dental researchers and, what is known of the oral health status of minority ethnic groups? Other background variables are considered which might explain the differences in oral health status between these communities and the indigenous population, and recommendations are made concerning further research in this area.
School of Dentistry, University of Birmingham.
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D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001211:Asia, Western / Q000208:ethnology; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D044383:Black People; D002648:Child; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000208:ethnology*; D003753:Dental Health Surveys; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006267:Health Education, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009909:Oral Health; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D014744:Vietnam / Q000208:ethnology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data