HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Sabbah, W. Articles by Watt, R.G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Sabbah, W. Articles by Watt, R.G.

Social Gradients in Oral and General Health

Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London, WC1E 6BT, UK

^* corresponding author, w.sabbah{at}ucl.ac.uk

There are social gradients in general health and oral health. However, there have been few studies addressing whether similarities exist in the gradients in oral and general health in the same individuals. We set out to test, using data from NHANES III, whether there are social gradients in oral health, and whether they resemble the gradients in general health. Income, indicated by poverty-income ratio, and education gradients were examined in periodontal diseases, ischemic heart disease, and perceived oral/general health. Our analysis demonstrated consistent income and education gradients in all outcomes assessed. In the adjusted regression models, the probabilities of having poorer clinical and perceived health were attenuated, but remained significantly higher at each lower level of income and education for most outcomes. The results showed similar income and education gradients in oral and general health, implying commonalities of the social determinants of both oral and general health.

KEY WORDS: social gradients • periodontal disease • ischemic heart disease • perceived oral/general health