Oral health status of homeless people in Hong Kong.
The authors report on an oral health survey among Hong Kong Chinese homeless people. A total of 140 homeless men underwent clinical examination and were interviewed with a structured questionnaire. More than 90% had evidence of caries experience; most (75%) were related to untreated caries. The mean DMFT score was 9.0 (DT = 3.2, MT = 5.2, FT = 0.6). Periodontal disease was highly prevalent, with 96% having periodontal pockets. The dental problems most frequently reported by the homeless were: bleeding gums or drifting teeth (62%), dental pain (52%) and tooth trauma (38%). More than 70% of the study's participants perceived a need for dental care. The population surveyed had poorer oral health compared to the general population. High levels of dental needs, both normative and perceived, were found. There is a need to provide more accessible and affordable oral health services to this group of people.
Luo
Yan
Y
Faculty of Dentistry, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. violaluo@hku.hk
McGrath
Colman
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology; D006304:Health Status; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009909:Oral Health; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000453:epidemiology; D018677:Tooth Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D014085:Tooth Migration / Q000453:epidemiology; D014098:Toothache / Q000453:epidemiology