Table 1.
Comparisons of self-reported oral health of different subgroups of respondents.a
| Variable | Mean self-reported oral health ± SD (n) among yes respondents |
Mean self-reported oral health ± SD (n) among no respondents |
Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distal factors | |||
| Medical insurance | 3.00 ± 1.16 (13) | 2.93 ± 1.12 (28) | p = 0.85 |
| Dental insurance | 3.50 ± 0.55 (6) | 3.03 ± 1.11 (34) | p = 0.32 |
| Intermediate factors | |||
| Dental home | 2.78 ± 1.00 (18) | 2.75 ± 1.24 (16) | p = 0.94 |
| Time to brush teeth | 2.72 ± 1.02 (18) | 3.14 ± 1.21 (22) | p = 0.26 |
| Not hard to find clean water | 2.94 ± 1.08 (35) | 3.50 ± 1.29 (4) | p = 0.34 |
| Always have a toothbrush | 2.85 ± 1.28 (13) | 2.96 ± 1.08 (26) | p = 0.77 |
| Always have toothpaste | 2.79 ± 1.19 (14) | 3.00 ± 1.10 (26) | p = 0.57 |
| Proximal factors | |||
| Any substance use | 2.81 ± 1.15 (27) | 3.17 ± 1.10 (18) | p = 0.31 |
| Alcohol use | 2.88 ± 1.05 (17) | 2.71 ± 1.19 (21) | p = 0.65 |
| Cigarette use | 2.91 ± 1.15 (22) | 2.71 ± 1.11 (17) | p = 0.58 |
| Marijuana use | 2.93 ± 1.14 (14) | 2.70 ± 1.13 (20) | p = 0.57 |
| Methamphetamine use | 3.60 ± 0.55 (5) | 2.67 ± 1.12 (30) | p = 0.08b |
| Dental fears | 2.94 ± 1.00 (16) | 2.97 ± 1.21 (29) | p = 0.94 |
| Have a toothache | 2.40 ± 0.99 (15) | 3.38 ± 1.01 (24) | p = 0.005b |
| Have a broken tooth or filling | 2.29 ± 1.07 (14) | 3.43 ± 0.95 (23) | p = 0.002b |
| Have sore or bleeding gums | 2.20 ± 0.92 (10) | 3.33 ± 1.04 (27) | p = 0.005b |
| Have discolored teeth | 2.56 ± 1.15 (18) | 3.53 ± 0.91 (19) | p = 0.007b |
| Have a tooth abscess | 1.00 ± 0.00 (1)c | 3.15 ± 1.05 (34) | p = 0.05b |
| Have a loose tooth | 1.00 ± 0.00 (4) | 3.28 ± 0.92 (32) | p < 0.001b |
| Have sensitive teeth | 2.55 ± 0.99 (20) | 3.44 ± 1.15 (18) | p = 0.02b |
| Have a crown, bridge, or partial that does not fit | 4.00 ± 0.00 (2) | 3.09 ± 1.04 (33) | p = 0.23 |
| Have pain while chewing | 2.55 ± 1.29 (11) | 3.13 ± 1.04 (30) | p = 0.14 |
a
Self-reported oral health was measured on a five-point Likert-type scale, with 1 representing very bad oral health and 5 representing very good oral health.
b
Statistically significant difference at α = 0.10 level.
c
No mean or standard deviation (SD) could be calculated because only one youth reported having a tooth abscess.