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D.O.I.

10.1922/CDH_00153Alhejaili06

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• Hussam Alhejaili
• Elsa K. Delgado-Angulo

Abstract

Objective: To explore the role of socioeconomic factors, area deprivation and behaviours in explaining ethnic differences in the functional
dentition among East London adults using multilevel modelling. Methods: Data from a community-based health survey in East London
included information on 1898 adults aged between 16 to 65 years old and belonging to 9 ethnic groups. Supervised questionnaires gathered
information on demographic characteristics, socioeconomic indicators, dental behaviours and area deprivation (IMD 2007). A functional
dentition was defined as having all 6 anterior plus at least 4 posterior contacts in clinical examination. Results: The multilevel logistic
regression showed that Black Africans were 75% (95%CI: 1.21-2.52) and Black Caribbean 77% (95%CI: 1.05-2.98) more likely to have
a non-functional dentition than White British participants in fully adjusted models. Other factors associated with a non-functional dentition
were older age and no educational attainment. Conclusion: Black adults are at greater risk of non-functional dentition independently from
sociodemographic characteristics, oral health-related behaviours and area-level characteristics. Proportionate universalism could be effective
in reducing these health gaps.
Keywords: functional dentition, ethnic inequalities, multilevel approach