Examining related influential factors for dental calculus scaling utilization among people with disabilities in Taiwan, a nationwide population-based study

Res Dev Disabil. 2014 Sep;35(9):2231-40. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2014.05.014. Epub 2014 Jun 11.

Abstract

Limited studies with large samples have been conducted on the utilization of dental calculus scaling among people with physical or mental disabilities. This study aimed to investigate the utilization of dental calculus scaling among the national disabled population. This study analyzed the utilization of dental calculus scaling among the disabled people, using the nationwide data between 2006 and 2008. Descriptive analysis and logistic regression were performed to analyze related influential factors for dental calculus scaling utilization. The dental calculus scaling utilization rate among people with physical or mental disabilities was 16.39%, and the annual utilization frequency was 0.2 times. Utilization rate was higher among the female and non-aboriginal samples. Utilization rate decreased with increased age and disability severity while utilization rate increased with income, education level, urbanization of residential area and number of chronic illnesses. Related influential factors for dental calculus scaling utilization rate were gender, age, ethnicity (aboriginal or non-aboriginal), education level, urbanization of residence area, income, catastrophic illnesses, chronic illnesses, disability types, and disability severity significantly influenced the dental calculus scaling utilization rate.

Keywords: Calculus scaling utilization; Dental calculus scaling; Dental prevention; Disability.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Dental Scaling / statistics & numerical data*
  • Disabled Persons / statistics & numerical data*
  • Educational Status
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Income / statistics & numerical data
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Sex Factors
  • Taiwan
  • Urbanization