Abstract
BackgroundOur aim was to identify clinical and sociodemographic factors associated with oral pain and oral health-related productivity loss among US adults.MethodsWe included adults aged ≥30 years who completed the dental examination, had at least one natural tooth, and provided an answer about their oral pain experience or oral health-related productivity loss in the 2015–2018 National Health and Nutrition and Examination Survey (NHANES). We performed descriptive analyses and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses on weighted data.ResultsOne out of four adults had oral pain and 4% reported oral health-related productivity loss occasionally or often within the last year of the survey. The odds of oral pain were higher among non-Hispanic black (OR = 1.35; 95%CI = 1.08–1.62) and non-Hispanic Asian individuals (OR = 1.38; 95%CI = 1.07–1.78) compared to non-Hispanic white individuals, and individuals with untreated dental caries (OR = 2.06; 95%CI = 1.72–2.47). The odds for oral health-related productivity loss were 13.85 times higher among individuals who reported oral pain (95%CI = 8.07–23.77), and 2.18 times higher among individuals with untreated dental caries (95%CI = 1.65–2.89). The odds of oral pain and reported oral health-related productivity loss decreased as family income increased.ConclusionsFactors including non-Hispanic black race/ethnicity, lower socio-economic status, and untreated dental caries are associated with oral pain experience, which increases the odds of oral health-related productivity losses. Identifying factors associated with oral pain and productivity loss will enable clinicians, policymakers, and employers to proactively target and prioritize the higher-risk groups in early interventions and policies.
Highlights
Chronic oral diseases constitute a range of preventable conditions, primarily dental caries and periodontal disease, which affect more than 3.5 billion people worldwide, especially those living in low- and middle-income countries [1]
The odds of oral pain and reported oral health-related productivity loss decreased as family income increased
Factors including non-Hispanic black race/ethnicity, lower socio-economic status, and untreated dental caries are associated with oral pain experience, which increases the odds of oral health-related productivity losses
Summary
Chronic oral diseases constitute a range of preventable conditions, primarily dental caries and periodontal disease, which affect more than 3.5 billion people worldwide, especially those living in low- and middle-income countries [1]. The cost of oral pain is limited to the direct cost of treatment, and includes the reduced productive capacity of individuals, with frequent absenteeism at school and work amounting to 33% of the indirect costs of dental care [2,4,5]. Oral problems account for 9–27% of sickness-related absences and 28–50% of presenteeism (reduction of productive capacity in the workplace) among adults, with oral pain being one of the most common reasons [5]. Data from a Canadian survey estimated that over 40 million hours (3.5 hours/person) are potentially lost annually due to dental problems and treatment, with subsequent productivity losses amounting to over $1 billion [7]. Our aim was to identify clinical and sociodemographic factors associated with oral pain and oral health-related productivity loss among US adults
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