Oral health status of Vietnamese adults: findings from the National Oral Health Survey of Vietnam.
BACKGROUND
The National Oral Health Survey of Vietnam 1999 was conducted to inform policy development.


OBJECTIVE
This article aims to describe the oral health status, analyze its socioeconomic distribution, and evaluate change over time in the oral health of the adult population of Vietnam.


METHODS
A multistaged stratified sampling process was used. Adults aged 18+ years completed a social survey and were examined by trained and calibrated dentists.


RESULTS
Oral symptoms were frequent. Dental care utilization was low and mostly problem driven. One third of adults had periodontal pockets. Calculus was highly prevalent. Caries level was moderate with a mean decayed, missing, and filled teeth score of 4.98 (SD 5.7), with most as untreated decay. Factors related to caries were gender, hygiene practices, socioeconomic status, location, and dental visiting.


CONCLUSIONS
The oral health status of the Vietnamese adult population was compromised by various factors. There was indication of deteriorating oral health of this population.
Loc Giang Do
Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health, Dental School, The University of Adelaide, Australia. loc.do@adelaide.edu.au
Spencer
Andrew John
AJ
Roberts-Thomson
Kaye Frances
KF
Hai Dinh Trinh
Thuy Thanh Nguyen
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002137:Calculi / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016388:Tooth Loss; D014744:Vietnam / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult