Sense of coherence and oral health in dentate adults: findings from the Finnish Health 2000 survey.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the relationship between sense of coherence (SOC) and oral health, and the role of oral health-related behaviours in this relationship.


METHODS
This is a cross-sectional study of 5401 dentate adults who participated in the nationally representative Health 2000 Survey in Finland. The survey gathered information on SOC, demographic characteristics, education, income, pre-existing diabetes, daily smoking, dental attendance, toothbrushing frequency and sugar intake frequency. Oral health was assessed through clinical outcomes, such as number of teeth, number of decayed teeth and extent of periodontal pockets and perceived oral health.


RESULTS
A strong SOC was related to having more teeth, fewer decayed teeth, lower extent of periodontal pockets and good perceived oral health after adjustment for confounders, such as demographic and socioeconomic factors (all p0.003). These associations were attenuated but remained significant after further adjustment for potential mediators (oral health-related behaviours), except for the association of SOC with the extent of periodontal pockets, which was fully accounted for by pre-existing diabetes, oral health-related behaviours and dental plaque (p=0.549).


CONCLUSIONS
SOC is positively associated with various aspects of adult oral health, in part because of the better oral health-related behaviours among people with a strong SOC.
Bernabé
Eduardo
E
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK. e.bernabe@qmul.ac.uk
Watt
Richard G
RG
Sheiham
Aubrey
A
Suominen-Taipale
Anna L
AL
Uutela
Antti
A
Vehkalahti
Miira M
MM
Knuuttila
Matti
M
Kivimäki
Mika
M
Tsakos
Georgios
G
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000523:psychology*; D003753:Dental Health Surveys; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000523:psychology; D004037:Diet, Cariogenic; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009909:Oral Health; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000523:psychology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data