Oral conditions causally linked to social issues
Social adversity could play a role in oral and systemic health.
In a study published in the Journal of Dental Research, investigators examined the impact of social adversity — defined as a combination of low income, community participation and social relationships — on the development of oral and systemic conditions in a group of more than 23,000 adult participants aged 45 to 85 years.
After a follow-up of seven years, the investigators discovered that the 14% of participants who experienced social adversity were more likely to present with oral conditions such as poor oral health, a lack of functional dentition or edentulism as well as multimorbidity including oral conditions, especially those who were middle-aged.
As a result of the findings, the investigators underscored the need for policies aimed at improving social and living conditions in order to mitigate the risk of oral and systemic diseases.
Read more: Journal of Dental Research
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