84 - Oral Health Risk Factors and Overall Dental Treatment Needs in Air Force Recruits

Abstract:

Objective: To assess the relationship between oral health risk indicators and the total dental treatment needs of Air Force recruits.

Methods: Data from the 2018 Air Force Recruit Oral Health Study (ROHS) was used. An anonymized sample of approximately 1500 Air Force recruits that completed a comprehensive oral exam and a survey that collected demographic and oral health behavior information. The primary outcome variable was the total number of dental treatment needs for each recruit, and independent predictor variables included select socio-demographic factors, geographic, and oral-health related behaviors. Along with descriptive statistics, a multivariable negative binomial regression analysis was performed to assess the relationship between the predictor and outcome variables.

Results: The final adjusted analysis showed that oral health related factors, such needing a dentist but not being able to see one, carried the greatest increased risk for treatment needs. A recruit’s self-rated oral health had the biggest impact, with those rating their oral health as “poor" having almost twice the rate of treatment needs as those who said they had “excellent” oral health. Other covariates that show a strong relationship between increased rate of treatment needs were age, dental insurance coverage, and tobacco use.

Conclusion: This is the first study to assess the relationship between specific risk indicators and increased dental treatment needs while adjusting other related covariates. It provides the Air Force Dental Service, and potentially the entire Military Healthcare System, with specific factors that increase the risk for poor oral health in recruits.

Source of Funding: None

Affiliations: Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine
United States Air Force, Dental Evaluation and Research Consultation Service