The Self-Reported Oral Health Status and Dental Attendance of Smokers and Non-Smokers in England

PLoS One. 2016 Feb 10;11(2):e0148700. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0148700. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

Smoking has been identified as the second greatest risk factor for global death and disability and has impacts on the oral cavity from aesthetic changes to fatal diseases such as oral cancer. The paper presents a secondary analysis of the National Adult Dental Health Survey (2009). The analysis used descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses and logistic regression models to report the self-reported oral health status and dental attendance of smokers and non-smokers in England. Of the 9,657 participants, 21% reported they were currently smoking. When compared with smokers; non-smokers were more likely to report 'good oral health' (75% versus 57% respectively, p<0.05). Smokers were twice as likely to attend the dentist symptomatically (OR = 2.27, CI = 2.02-2.55) compared with non-smoker regardless the deprivation status. Smokers were more likely to attend symptomatically in the most deprived quintiles (OR = 1.99, CI = 1.57-2.52) and perceive they had poorer oral health (OR = 1.77, CI = 1.42-2.20). The present research is consistent with earlier sub-national research and should be considered when planning early diagnosis and management strategies for smoking-related conditions, considering the potential impact dental teams might have on smoking rates.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Dental Care / statistics & numerical data*
  • Dental Health Surveys*
  • Dental Offices
  • England / epidemiology
  • Ethnicity / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Office Visits / statistics & numerical data*
  • Oral Health*
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care / statistics & numerical data*
  • Poverty Areas
  • Self Report
  • Smoking / adverse effects
  • Smoking / epidemiology*
  • Young Adult

Grants and funding

The authors received no specific funding for this work.