Differences in self-reported oral health among community-dwelling black, Hispanic, and white elders.
OBJECTIVE
To compare differences in self-rated oral health among community-dwelling Black, Hispanic, and White adults aged 60 and older.


METHODS
A total of 4,859 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2004) provided self-report information on oral health.


RESULTS
Blacks and Hispanics reported poorer self-rated oral health than Whites. In separate dentate and edentulous groups, socioeconomic status, social support, physical health, clinical oral health outcomes, and dental checkups accounted for much of the difference in self-rated oral health in Blacks, but significant differences remained for Hispanics.


CONCLUSIONS
The study findings may have important implications for health policy and program development. Programs and services designed for minority populations should target treatments for dental diseases and include components that take into account subjective evaluations of oral health conditions and perceived dental needs of the individuals.
Wu
Bei
B
University of North Carolina at Greensboro, USA. b_wu@uncg.edu
Plassman
Brenda L
BL
Liang
Jersey
J
Remle
R Corey
RC
Bai
Lina
L
Crout
Richard J
RJ
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D005853:Geriatrics; D006306:Health Surveys; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D009909:Oral Health; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support; D014481:United States; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*