title: Socio-economic and lifestyle factors in relation to priority of dental care in a Swedish adolescent population.
abstract: The aim of this epidemiological survey was to describe and analyze oral health habits and life-style factors in relation to the priority of regular dental care in 19-year-old individuals with specific reference to gender, residential area and socio-economic grouping. The data were generated from a randomized sample of 758 (63%) individuals in three residential areas in Western Sweden (two rural, one urban) who answered a set of questionnaires prior to a dental examination. The analysis revealed that males had significantly less favourable oral health habits than females. Forty-one % of the males and 30% of the females did not plan regular dental visits after the age of 20 when they will be charged for the care (p = 0.002). There were no statistically significant differences in oral health habits and dental care priorities with regard to residential areas and socio-economic groups. In a multivariate model, three significant factors for the probability of "not planning for future regular dental visits" were identified: toothbrushing less than twice daily (OR 1.94; 95% CI 1.28-2.94), smoking (OR 1.68; 95% CI 1.10-2.56) and male gender (OR 1.54; 95% CI 1.05-2.24). The findings emphasize the need for promotion of favourable oral health habits and smoking prevention among adolescents. There is also a need for dental personnel to recognize differences with regard to oral health-related attitudes and behaviours between males and females.
authors.affiliation: Karlstad University, Karlstad, Sweden. anna-lena.ostberg@vgregion.se
authors.forename: Anna-Lena
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Ostberg
authors.forename: Jessica S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Ericsson
authors.forename: Jan L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Wennström
authors.forename: Kajsa H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Abrahamsson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003729:Dental Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009909:Oral Health; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D055815:Young Adult