Dental status among native and immigrant young Israeli adults.
BACKGROUND
New immigrants, originating from different cultures, often demonstrate dental health, behavior and treatment levels, which are different to native born populations. Immigrants are often classified as 'high-risk' populations. The goals of this study included comparing caries prevalence levels and different modes of treatment and dental health behavior, among immigrants from the former USSR and Israeli born young adults.


METHODS
581 young adults (average age 18 years) answered a questionnaire and were clinically examined.


RESULTS
Socio-demographic variables were significantly different: number of siblings and years of schooling were higher among the Israeli born population; father's occupation was less professional among the immigrants. Untreated caries and lower father's occupation were significantly associated. Most immigrants reached the dentist's office only when they suffered pain, in contrast to the Israelis who were more regularly taken care of. Smoking was more prevalent among immigrants and significantly associated with caries levels. The caries prevalence among the Israelis was: DMFT = 4.7 +/- 4.13, D = 1.09 +/- 1.81, M = 0.11 +/- 0.37, F = 3.51 +/- 3.85, and among the immigrants: DMFT = 5.98 +/- 4.66, D = 2.78 +/- 2.77, M = 1.01 +/- 0.51, F = 2.70 +/- 3.22. These differences were statistically significant (p<0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
Immigrants should be considered as a high risk group and demand a specific call for public health action.
Birnboim-Blau
G
G
Medical Corps, Israeli Defense Forces, Israel.
Levin
L
L
Sgan-Cohen
H D
HD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D004245:DMF Index; D003729:Dental Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000208:ethnology*; D004522:Educational Status; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D004651:Employment; D005191:Family Characteristics; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014586:USSR / Q000208:ethnology