Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The STEP trials

A round-up of the STEP phase 3 clinical trials evaluating semaglutide for weight loss in people with overweight or obesity.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Oral Health
Published in: BMC Oral Health 1/2012

Open Access 01-12-2012 | Research article

Oral health status and the epidemiologic paradox within latino immigrant groups

Authors: Vladimir W Spolsky, Marvin Marcus, Claudia Der-Martirosian, Ian D Coulter, Carl A Maida

Published in: BMC Oral Health | Issue 1/2012

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

According to the United States census, there are 28 categories that define “Hispanic/Latinos.” This paper compares differences in oral health status between Mexican immigrants and other Latino immigrant groups.

Methods

Derived from a community-based sample (N=240) in Los Angeles, this cross-sectional study uses an interview covering demographic and behavioral measures, and an intraoral examination using NIDCR epidemiologic criteria. Descriptive, bivariate analysis, and multiple regression analysis were conducted to examine the determinants that are associated with the Oral Health Status Index (OHSI).

Results

Mexican immigrants had a significantly higher OHSI (p<.05) compared to other Latinos. The multilinear regression showed that both age and gender (p<.05), percentage of untreated decayed teeth (p<.001), number of replaced missing teeth (p<.001), and attachment loss (p<.001) were significant.

Conclusions

Compared with the other Latino immigrants in our sample, Mexican immigrants have significantly better oral health status. This confirms the epidemiologic paradox previously found in comparisons of Mexicans with whites and African Americans. In this case of oral health status the paradox also occurs between Mexicans and other Latinos. Therefore, when conducting oral health studies of Latinos, more consideration needs to be given to differences within Latino subgroups, such as their country of origin and their unique ethnic and cultural characteristics.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
Gift HC: A Look at oral health within the context of diverse populations: Foreword. Adv Dent Res. 1997, 11: 200-202. 10.1177/08959374970110020101.CrossRefPubMed
2.
Delgado JL, Estrada L: Improving data collections strategies. Public Health Rep. 1994, 108: 540-545.
3.
Novello AC, Soto-Torres LE: One voice, one vision–uniting to improve Hispanic-Latino health (editorial). Public Health Rep. 1993, 108: 529-553.PubMedPubMedCentral
4.
Ramos-Gomez F, Cruz GD, Watson MR, Canto MT, Boneta AE: Latino oral health: a research agenda toward eliminating oral health disparities. J Amer Dent Assoc. 2005, 136: 1231-1240.CrossRef
5.
Lopez DE, Popkin E, Telles E: Central Americans. Ethnic Los Angeles. Edited by: Waldinger R, Bozorgmehr M. 1996, New York: Russell Sage Foundation, 279-304.
6.
7.
Andersen RN, Davidson PL: Ethnicity, aging, and oral health outcomes: A conceptual framework. Adv Dent Res. 1997, 11: 203-209. 10.1177/08959374970110020201.CrossRefPubMed
8.
Marcus M, Koch AL, Gershen JA: A proposed Index of Oral Health Status: A practical application. J Amer Dent Assoc. 1983, 107: 729-737.CrossRef
9.
DePorter DJ, Marcus M, Jacobson JJ: A comparison of potential treatment costs for group versus voluntary individual enrollment plans. J Dent Educ. 1988, 52: 605-608.PubMed
10.
Manninen DL, Dugan MK, Pearce S: Dental health outcome study: comparison of capitation and fee-for-service dental plans. 1994, Seattle: Battelle Centers for Public Health Research and Evaluation
11.
Lang WP, Borgnakke WS, Taylor GW, Woolfolk MW, Ronis DL, Nyquist LV: Evaluation and use of an index of oral health status. J Public Health Dent. 1997, 57: 233-242. 10.1111/j.1752-7325.1997.tb02980.x.CrossRefPubMed
12.
Spolsky VW, Marcus M, Coulter ID, Der-Martirosian C, Atchison KA: An empirical test of the validity of the oral health status index (OHSI) on a minority population. J Dent Res. 2000, 78: 1983-1988.CrossRef
13.
Otsuru J, Ueno M, Shinada K, Spolsky VW, Maida CA, Kawaguchi Y: A comparative study of oral health status in a migrant/Japanese sample. J Med Dent Sci. 2006, 53: 27-33.PubMed
14.
Markides KS, Coreil J: The health of Hispanics in the southwestern United States: an epidemiologic paradox. Public Health Rep. 1986, 101: 253-265.PubMedPubMedCentral
15.
Osypuk TL, Bates LM, Acevedo-Garcia D: Another birthweight paradox? The role of residential enclaves and neighborhood poverty in the birthweight of Mexican-origin infants. Soc Sci Med. 2010, 70: 550-560. 10.1016/j.socscimed.2009.10.034.CrossRefPubMed
16.
Hummer RA, Powers DA, Pullum SG, Gossman GL, Frisbie WP: Paradox found (again): Infant Mortality among the Mexican-origin population in the United States. Demography. 2007, 44: 441-457. 10.1353/dem.2007.0028.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
17.
18.
19.
Miller AK, Brunelle JA, Carlos JP, Brown LJ, Löe H: Oral health of United States adults - The national survey of oral health in U.S. employed adults and seniors: 1985–86. 1987, Bethesda: National Institutes of Health; NIH Publication no. 87–2868, 159-168. 3–141
20.
Marcus M, Koch AL, Gershen JA: An empirically derived measure of oral health status for adult populations. J Public Health Dent. 1980, 40: 334-345. 10.1111/j.1752-7325.1980.tb01051.x.CrossRefPubMed
21.
Winn DM, Brunelle JA, Selwitz RH, Kaste LM, Oldakowski RJ, Kingman A, Brown LJ: Coronal and root caries in the dentition of adults in the United States, 1988–1991. J Dent Res. 1996, 75 ((special issue): 642-651.PubMed
22.
Albandar JM, Brunelle JA, Kingman A: Destructive periodontal diseases in adults 30 years of age and older in the United States, 1988–1994. J Periodontol. 1999, 70: 13-29. 10.1902/jop.1999.70.1.13.CrossRefPubMed
23.
Hayes-Bautista DE, Baezconde-Garbanati L, Schink WO, Hayes-Bautista M: Latino health in California, 1985–1990: implications for family practice. Fam Med. 1994, 26: 556-562.PubMed
Metadata
Title
Oral health status and the epidemiologic paradox within latino immigrant groups
Authors
Vladimir W Spolsky
Marvin Marcus
Claudia Der-Martirosian
Ian D Coulter
Carl A Maida
Publication date
01-12-2012
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Oral Health / Issue 1/2012
Electronic ISSN: 1472-6831
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6831-12-39

Other articles of this Issue 1/2012

BMC Oral Health 1/2012 Go to the issue

Research article

Adolescents' perceptions of the aesthetic impact of dental fluorosis vs. other dental conditions in areas with and without water fluoridation

Research article

Dental fluorosis in populations from Chiang Mai, Thailand with different fluoride exposures – Paper 1: assessing fluorosis risk, predictors of fluorosis and the potential role of food preparation

Research article

Comparison of photographic and visual assessment of occlusal caries with histology as the reference standard

Research article

Rural–urban differences in dental service use among children enrolled in a private dental insurance plan in Wisconsin: analysis of administrative data

Research article

Evaluating the use of fluorescent imaging for the quantification of dental fluorosis

Research article

Oral health and obesity indicators