Screening tools to prioritize routine dental care in an institutional environment.
OBJECTIVE
This study examines whether self-rated oral health is a suitable screening tool to detect dental caries and periodontal pockets, by itself and in combination with other self-reported health indicators, at the entry point of an institutional system for routine dental care.


METHODS
Eight dentists recorded the clinical oral health status of a diverse adult sample (#n = 483) demanding routine dental examinations from a military health maintenance organization in South Africa (July 1999 to December 2000). Additionally, subjects reported their smoking status and rated their general and oral health by using a 4-point Likert scale (excellent, good, fair, or poor).


RESULTS
Self-rated oral health in combination with self-reported smoking and self-rated general health were associated with the majority of decayed teeth and periodontal pockets in subjects demanding routine dental examinations.


CONCLUSIONS
This study indicates that self-rated oral health in combination with self-reported smoking can be a useful screening tool to prioritize routine dental care in an institutional environment.
Postma
Thomas Corné
TC
Department of Community Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
D000328:Adult; D003729:Dental Care; D003753:Dental Health Surveys; D003945:Diagnosis, Oral; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008885:Military Dentistry; D009909:Oral Health; D012647:Self-Assessment; D013019:South Africa; D009057:Stomatognathic Diseases; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires