The Social and Behavioural Pathway of Dental Caries Experience among Jewish Adults in Jerusalem

A. Zinia, H.D. Sgan-Cohena, W. Marcenesb

aDepartment of Community Dentistry, Hebrew University – Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel;
bBarts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK

Address of Corresponding Author

Caries Res 2012;46:47-54 (DOI: 10.1159/000335564)

  Key Words

Dental health status, JerusalemHealth behaviourSocial caries determinants

  Abstract

Aims: To report dental caries status, related health behaviours and social determinants among a representative sample of adults residing in Jerusalem. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using a stratified sample of 254 Jewish and married adults aged 35–44 years in Jerusalem. Dental caries status was examined according to DMFT, percentage of caries-free persons and of people maintaining all their natural teeth (no teeth missing due to caries). The results were analysed by the independent variables and interpreted by weighted caries scores for the total Jerusalem population. Results: The mean age was 38.63 years. Weighted DMFT was found to be 10.59; 6.8% of the population were caries-free; 67.1% demonstrated maintenance of all natural teeth. Level of education was the distal factor, associated with number of natural teeth, DMFT and untreated decay. Mediating behavioural determinants included dental attendance, plaque level and sugar consumption. Discussion: The findings of this study demonstrated that caries experience among Jewish married adults in Jerusalem was moderate with low unmet dental caries needs. Additionally, data confirmed that a low level of education was a strong distal social determinant of caries experience, which affected dental health status via a pathway mediated by behavioural factors.

Copyright © 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Dr. Avi Zini
Department of Community Dentistry
Hebrew University – Hadassah School of Dental Medicine
POB 12272, Jerusalem 91120 (Israel)
Tel. +972 2 675 8569, E-Mail aviz@hadassah.org.il

  Article Information

Received: December 2, 2010
Accepted after revision: December 6, 2011
Published online: January 26, 2012
Number of Print Pages : 8
Number of Figures : 1, Number of Tables : 4, Number of References : 51

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 © 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel