Dental health and treatment needs among a sample of Bangladeshi medical users aged 40 years and over living in Tower Hamlets, UK.

AIM: To assess the dental health status and treatment needs of Bangladeshi medical care users aged 40 years and over and to explore the relationship of oral disease status, tobacco usage and paan (betel quid) chewing. DESIGN: Multi-centre cross-sectional study. SETTING: General medical practitioners' waiting areas in Tower Hamlets, UK. SUBJECTS: 185 Bangladeshi adults aged 40 years and over. INTERVENTION: A clinical examination and an interview schedule. MEASURES: Dental status, periodontal status, dental plaque, calculus and denture status. Tobacco smoking and paan chewing behaviour. RESULTS: The response rate was 74%. 85% of participants were dentate with an average number of 24 (SD +/- 5.4) standing teeth. The mean DMFT score was 5.38, with missing teeth (3.81) being the major component. The decayed component was 0.43 and the filled was 1.14. 46% of participants were assessed as being free from gingivitis. Significant relationships between chewing paan and aspects of dental and periodontal status were found. Impacts of oral health were reported by 45% of the respondents. The normative need for dental treatment was 96% with a perceived need of 48%. CONCLUSION: There was considerable normative dental need. Whilst caries experience was low, there were high levels of periodontal treatment needs. Paan chewing was related to aspects of dental and periodontal status.

Prevalence of oral lesions among a sample of Bangladeshi medical users aged 40 years and over living in Tower Hamlets, UK.

AIM: To collect data on the prevalence of oral mucosal lesions among Bangladeshi medical care users aged 40 years and over and to explore the relationship of oral disease status and tobacco smoking and paan (betel quid) chewing. DESIGN: Multi-centre cross-sectional study. SETTING: General medical practitioners' waiting areas in Tower Hamlets, UK. SUBJECTS: 185 Bangladeshi adults aged 40 years old and over. METHOD: An oral mucosal examination, based on WHO criteria and an interview. Information on tobacco smoking and paan chewing behaviour was collected during the interview. RESULTS: Out of 185 adults there was a response rate of 74%. Oral mucosal lesions were observed in 40% of participants. The most common lesion was found to be leukoplakia with a prevalence of 25%. Significant relationships were found between smoking and the presence of oral pathology and between paan chewing with tobacco and the presence of leukoplakia. CONCLUSION: In this study of older Bangladeshi medical care users there was a high prevalence of oral mucosal lesions. Sensitively tailored health promotion interventions, which aim to reduce tobacco use, should be developed for this population.

Dental service use and the implications for oral cancer screening in a sample of Bangladeshi adult medical care users living in Tower Hamlets, UK.

AIM: To assess the use of dental services, barriers to uptake of dental care and attitudes to regular dental examinations and the prevalence of tobacco and paan chewing habits in a group of Bangladeshi medical care users. DESIGN: Multi-centre cross-sectional study. SETTING: Four general medical practices' waiting areas in Tower Hamlets. SUBJECTS: Bangladeshi adults aged 40 years and over. INTERVENTION: An interview schedule. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The prevalence of tobacco smoking and paan chewing with or without the addition of tobacco. The use of dental services, barriers to the use of dental services and attitudes to regular dental examinations. RESULTS: Results were obtained from 158 subjects (response rate 85%). 25% of the whole sample had never visited a dentist. These were significantly (P < 0.05) more likely to be women, who also thought regular check-ups were of little value. In their use of health services 73% experienced language difficulties. 33% of the sample were tobacco smokers. Paan was chewed by 78% of the sample with significantly (P < 0.05) more females than males adding tobacco to their quid and chewing more frequently than males. CONCLUSION: There are considerable barriers to be overcome if dental practices are to be the site for oral cancer screening and oral health promotion in this population. There are sex differences in reported behaviour and attitudes about use of dental services and in tobacco and paan use in this Bangladeshi sample. Further research is needed to establish why this ethnic minority attend general medical practices but not general dental practices.

Oral health knowledge, beliefs and practices of a sample of Chinese elders in Inner London, UK, aged 54 years and over: a pilot investigation.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the self-reported oral health and health behaviours of a sample of Inner London Chinese elders and the impact of their self-reported oral health on their social functioning and eating ability. DESIGN: Cross sectional. SETTING: Luncheon clubs in Central and East London, UK. SUBJECTS: 54 Chinese elders aged 54-81 years. INTERVENTION: A structured questionnaire, administered by two interviewers in Cantonese. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Knowledge and beliefs about the causes and prevention of tooth decay and gum disease, the oral conditions experienced in the previous twelve months and the impact of these conditions. RESULTS: Overall health was rated more positively than oral health, although those who reported below average oral health were more likely to report below average overall health. Whilst over half thought that sugar and sweet food could cause tooth decay, only 19% thought that poor oral hygiene could cause gum disease. Over half thought that "hot air" caused gum disease. Three quarters brushed their teeth at least twice a day. Two thirds had experienced at least one oral condition in the previous twelve months, with the more elderly being more likely to report this. Social impacts affected 41% of the sample whilst 44% suffered at least one dietary impact. CONCLUSIONS: The burden of oral conditions is substantial, especially on the more elderly members, impacting on the performance of social functions. These burdens indicate a need for oral health services. Beliefs in the traditional Chinese explanation of "hot air" as a cause of gum disease were common. Health promotion effort should consider these when developing health messages.