Oral health status of refugee torture survivors seeking care in the United States

Am J Public Health. 2008 Dec;98(12):2181-2. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2007.120063. Epub 2008 Oct 15.

Abstract

We assessed the oral health status of 216 refugee torture survivors seeking care at an urban torture treatment center in the United States. Results showed that patients' dental health ranged from poor to fair; 76% had untreated cavities, and approximately 90% required immediate or near-immediate dental care. Torture treatment centers, in addition to offering safe environments for educating and examining patients, are ideal settings to provide basic oral health services without the risk of retraumatization.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Boston
  • DMF Index
  • Dental Clinics
  • Dental Health Surveys
  • Emigration and Immigration / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Health Status*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mass Screening
  • Middle Aged
  • Needs Assessment
  • Oral Health*
  • Outpatient Clinics, Hospital
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care / statistics & numerical data
  • Periodontal Index
  • Refugees / statistics & numerical data*
  • Survivors / statistics & numerical data*
  • Torture* / statistics & numerical data
  • Young Adult