Journal
JOURNAL OF DENTAL RESEARCH
Volume 100, Issue 6, Pages 591-598Publisher
SAGE PUBLICATIONS INC
DOI: 10.1177/00220345211005782
Keywords
public health; socioeconomic factors; dental caries; periodontal diseases; health services accessibility; psychological distress
Categories
Funding
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) KAKENHI [17H03589, 19K10671, 19K10446, 18H03107, 18H03062, 19H03860]
- JSPS [19K19439]
- Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) [2033648]
- Research Support Program to Apply the Wisdom of the University to Tackle COVID-19 Related Emergency Problems, University of Tsukuba [19FA1005, 19FG2001, 19FA1012]
- Health Labour Sciences Research Grant [19FA1005, 19FG2001, 19FA1012]
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The study found that worsened socioeconomic conditions due to the COVID-19 pandemic deteriorated dental health, and policies that protect income and job loss may reduce dental health problems after the pandemic.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to economic contraction and significant restrictions on society. The shock to the economy could lead to a deterioration of physical health outcomes, including dental health. The present study investigated the association between worsened socioeconomic conditions due to the COVID-19 pandemic and dental pain in Japan. The mediating effects of psychological distress and oral health-related behaviors were also evaluated. Cross-sectional data from the Japan COVID-19 and Society Internet Survey conducted from August to September 2020 (n = 25,482; age range, 15-79 y) were analyzed. Multivariable logistic regression models were fitted to evaluate the independent associations of household income reduction, work reduction, and job loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic with dental pain within a month. Dental pain was reported by 9.8%. Household income reduction, work reduction, and job loss were independently associated with dental pain after adjusting for confounders (odds ratios: 1.42 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.28-1.57], 1.58 [95% CI, 1.41-1.76], 2.17 [95% CI, 1.64-2.88], respectively). The association related to household income reduction was mediated by psychological distress, postponing dental visits, toothbrushing behavior, and between-meals eating behavior by 21.3% (95% CI, 14.0-31.6), 12.4% (95% CI, 7.2-19.6), 1.5% (95% CI, -0.01 to 4.5), and 9.3% (95% CI, 5.4-15.2), respectively. Our findings showed that worsened socioeconomic conditions due to the COVID-19 pandemic deteriorated dental health. Policies that protect income and job loss may reduce dental health problems after the pandemic.
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