Better oral health, more inequality - empirical analysis among young adults

Objective The purpose of the study was to examine the development of the di stribution of oral health according to socio-economic status in young adult s from 1983 to 1994. Participants Study material consisted of 23-24 year ol d adults randomly selected from municipalities in Trondelag in 1983 and 199 4 (n=796, n=454). Results The results showed that while overall oral health had improved (reduction in mean DFS of 54% from 1983 to 1994), inequality in DFS between socio-economic groups had increased from 1983 to 1994. The w idening disparity appeared to be mainly due to a greater decrease in DFS am ong the group of individuals with high education. None of the comparable va riables, gender, residence, time since last dental visit nor type of clinic could explain the widening gap in DFS. For 1994, differences in oral healt h according to socio-economic status seemed not to be associated with the u se of dental services but rather with the comprehensiveness of treatment. S moking was more prevalent in the low socioeconomic group and associated wit h a higher mean DFS. Conclusion The target set by the WHO that by the year 2000 the actual differences in health status between groups should be reduc ed by at least 25% (WHO, 1988) seems to be unattainable among young adults in Norway.