Dental Health and Perceived Treatment Needs of Finnish Immigrants in Sweden

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyse the dental health and perceived treatment needs of Finnish immigrants in Sweden, using a representative sample and questionnaire technique. The material consisted of a random sample of 1 332 persons aged 20-59 years, resident in a Stockholm suburb. The response rate was 80%. Validity of the questionnaire was tested in a subgroup by comparing the number of teeth reported present in the questionnaire with the number observed clinically. Correlation coefficient (r) was 0.98. Compared with a study of Swedes, the mean number of remaining teeth was found to be lower and the proportion of edentulous persons higher in this study. The mean number of teeth was, however, higher than that found in a clinical study of Finnish immigrants 5 years previously, indicating a possible slight improvement in the dental health of Finnish immigrants. Almost 70% of the younger and about 45% of the older respondents had a perceived treatment need, primarily for fillings and scaling, older respondents also requiring prostheses. The real treatment need was probably greater than the study indicated. The study shows that Finnish immigrants to Sweden, as a social group, are in great need of dental treatment.