Multivariate analysis of oral hygiene data from a representative sample

Background: This analysis was based on an oral health survey with dental ex amination and interview by questionnaire. Method: The data set comprised a representative random sample of the over 14-year-old residents of the Germa n Federal State of Saxony (n = 714), in which a multivariate logistic regre ssion analysis was conducted. The dependent variable was the debris index ( DI) score of the oral hygiene index scoring system. The subjects were split into 2 groups by dividing DI scores into tertiles: those with acceptable o ral hygiene (1st tertile, DI 0.00 less than or equal to1.20) and unacceptab le oral hygiene (2nd and 3rd tertile, DI >1.20). The most important explana tory variable was the community periodontal index of treatment need (CPITN) . Results: The higher the CPITN score, the lower the probability of accepta ble oral hygiene. In relation to the reference category score 0, higher CPI TN scores were associated with acceptable oral hygiene, with an odds ratio 0.05 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.01-0.23) for CPITN score 1, and an o dds ratio 0.02 (95% CI: 0.01-0.08) for score 4. Further significant variabl es were: self-evaluation of tooth condition, gender, and the number of miss ing teeth.