Journal of Oral Hygiene & Health
Open Access

Abstract

Purpose: Depression is a common mental health condition in which negligent self care is often a feature. The association of depression and poor oral health has limited research. The purpose of this study is to determine if there is an association of depression with untreated dental caries among adults’ ages 18-55 years. Methods: The data for this study were from the 2011-12 National Health Nutrition and Examination Survey. The key outcome was the presence/absence of untreated dental caries. The key independent factor was depression, based on the responses to the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 Depression Score. There were 2,892 participants. Chi square and logistic regressions were conducted. Results: There were 2,169 participants (76.7%) without depression, 454 (14.6%) who with mild depression, and 270 (8.7%) who with moderate/severe depression. There were 710 (21.3%) with current caries. In unadjusted analyses, individuals with mild depression had an odds ratio of 1.44 (95% CI: 1.07, 1.93) of having current caries. The unadjusted odds ratio increased to 1.74 (95% CI: 1.19, 2.55) for individuals with moderate or severe depression. In an adjusted model, the odds ratios remained positive, but they were no longer significant (1.23 [95%CI: 0.96, 1.58] for mild and 1.30[95%CI: 0.84, 2.01] for moderate/severe depression. Conclusions: Lower family income to poverty ratio, education and lack of insurance were stronger predictors of untreated dental caries than depression in adults’ ages 18-55 years.

Biography

R Constance Wiener has completed her PhD in Public Health in 2012 from West Virginia University and completed her DMD at the University of Pittsburgh. She is a WVU Clinical and Translational Science Institute Clinician Scientist. She has published more than 30 papers in peer-reviewed journals and has been served as an Editorial Board Member and journal Reviewer.

Email: rwiener2@hsc.wvu.edu