The effects of income and education on ethnic differences in oral health: a study in US adults.
BACKGROUND
Ethnic differences exist in oral health. However, the causes of the differences have not been adequately addressed. The objective of this study is to examine the effect of socioeconomic position on ethnic differences in oral health.


METHODS
Data were from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted in the USA (1988-94). The effects of income and education on ethnic differences in perceived oral health, gingival bleeding, periodontitis and tooth loss were analysed using a series of regression models.


RESULTS
The probabilities of poorer oral health were higher among African-American, Mexican-Americans and other ethnic groups than in White Americans. Adjusting for income and education resulted in a reduction in the ORs for having poorer perceived oral health (44%), tooth loss (29%), gingival bleeding (61%) and periodontitis (30%) among African-Americans than White Americans. Similar reductions in risk were observed among Mexican-Americans and other ethnic groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that education and income play an important role in ethnic differences in oral health. Despite the major impact of socioeconomic position, the results imply that there are causes additional to socioeconomic position for ethnic differences in oral health.
Sabbah
W
W
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 6BT, UK. w.sabbah@ucl.ac.uk
Tsakos
G
G
Sheiham
A
A
Watt
R G
RG
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004522:Educational Status; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000191:economics / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D017058:Mexican Americans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016017:Odds Ratio; D009909:Oral Health; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000191:economics / Q000208:ethnology*; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000191:economics / Q000208:ethnology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data