title: Patterns of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among dental patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a diverse collection of approaches used to prevent or treat diseases. The goal of this study was to examine relationships between dental patient characteristics and current usage of CAM therapies.
  
  
  METHODS
  The CAM definition encompassed 24 therapies excluding prayer. Associations and trends in usage were assessed for gender, income, education, and age. Multivariable logistic and negative binomial models were used to identify factors impacting the use and number of CAM therapies used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In dental patients (n = 402), nearly 67 percent of subjects reported at least one CAM treatment. Gender was significantly associated with recent utilization of CAM, biological, manipulative (all P < 0.01), and mind-body (P = 0.04) therapies, as well as the number (P < 0.01) of therapies used. Higher education levels were significant in usage of any CAM, biological, and mind-body therapies (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A large proportion of dental patients reported use of CAM therapies. While CAM therapies and those who use them are diverse, given their widespread use, they clearly have potential impacts on the oral health of the public. Knowledge of the characteristics of dental patients who use CAM therapies is a first step in developing a broader understanding how CAM therapies and associated beliefs may affect oral health and public health programs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, The University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, IA, USA.
authors.forename: Colleen M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Kummet
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Dentistry, The University of Iowa College of Dentistry, Iowa City, IA, USA.
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Spector
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Division of Biostatistics and Research Design, The University of Iowa College of Dentistry, Iowa City, IA, USA.
authors.forename: Deborah V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Dawson
authors.affiliation: Private Practice of General Dentistry, Ankeny, IA, USA.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Dentistry, The University of Iowa College of Dentistry, Iowa City, IA, USA.
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Holmes
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive & Community Dentistry, The University of Iowa College of Dentistry, Iowa City, IA, USA.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Warren
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA.
authors.forename: Nicole L
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6265-7054
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Nisly
mesh_terms: D000529:Complementary Therapies; D003752:Dental Health Services; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
keywords: complementary and alternative medicine (CAM); dental clinic; survey; trends in CAM usage