Oral health needs among adults in the United States with chronic diseases.
BACKGROUND
Oral and dental diseases may be associated with other chronic diseases.


METHODS
Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2004, the authors calculated the prevalence of untreated dental diseases, self-reported poor oral health and the number of missing teeth for adults in the United States who had certain chronic diseases. The authors used multivariate analysis to determine whether these diseases were associated with indicators of dental disease after controlling for common risk factors.


RESULTS
Participants with rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes or a liver condition were twice as likely to have an urgent need for dental treatment as were participants who did not have these diseases. After controlling for common risk factors, the authors found that arthritis, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, emphysema, hepatitis C virus, obesity and stroke still were associated with dental disease.


CONCLUSIONS
The authors found a high burden of unmet dental care needs among participants with chronic diseases. This association held in the multivariate analysis, suggesting that some chronic diseases may increase the risk of developing dental disease, decrease utilization of dental care or both.


CONCLUSIONS
Dental and medical care providers should work together to ensure that adults with chronic diseases receive regular dental care.
Surveillance, Investigations, and Research Branch, Division of Oral Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Chamblee, GA 30341, USA. sig1@cdc.gov
Susan O
SO
Griffin
Laurie K
LK
Barker
Paul M
PM
Griffin
Jennifer L
JL
Cleveland
William
W
Kohn
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001168:Arthritis / Q000150:complications; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications; D004245:DMF Index; D017742:Dental Care for Chronically Ill / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D004646:Emphysema / Q000150:complications; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011203:Poverty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult