Factors associated with oral problems among adults with spinal cord injury.
OBJECTIVE
To explore factors associated with self-reported current oral (tooth and gum) problems and oral pain in the past 12 months among adults with spinal cord injury.


METHODS
An online oral health survey on the South Carolina Spinal Cord Injury Association website. Respondents were 192 adult residents of the US who identified themselves as having spinal cord injury at least 1 year before the survey date.


RESULTS
Approximately 47% of respondents reported having oral problems at the time of the survey, and 42% reported experiencing oral pain in the 12 months before the survey date. Multiple predictor analyses (controlling for age, gender, income, and dental insurance) indicated that current oral problems were positively associated with dry mouth symptoms, financial barriers to dental care access, smoking, and paraplegia. Oral pain experienced in the past 12 months was positively associated with dry mouth symptoms, financial barriers to dental care access, minority race, and paraplegia.


CONCLUSIONS
Adults with spinal cord injury reported a high prevalence of oral problems and oral pain. Those with paraplegia were more likely to report problems than those with tetraplegia. Because dry mouth and smoking were significantly associated with these problems, patient education from both dental and medical providers should emphasize awareness of the side effects of xerostomia-causing medications, dry mouth management, and smoking cessation. Findings also indicate unmet needs for low-cost preventive and treatment dental services for this vulnerable population.
Medical University of South Carolina, CHP Complex Bldg B, 151 Rutledge Avenue, Charleston, SC 29425, USA. yuen@musc.edu
Hon K
HK
Yuen
Matthew S
MS
Shotwell
Kathryn M
KM
Magruder
Elizabeth H
EH
Slate
Carlos F
CF
Salinas
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003753:Dental Health Surveys; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D009909:Oral Health; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013022:South Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009057:Stomatognathic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult