Thirty percent of Japanese employees rated their oral health as "poor" or "bad," a finding that closely correlates with clinically assessed dental issues such as missing teeth and periodontitis.
A recent study in BMC Oral Health introduces a novel method for evaluating oral health among Japanese private sector employees through single-item surveys.
The study aimed to validate self-reported oral health against clinical dental examinations.
This cross-sectional study involved 2,262 employees who completed self-administered questionnaires and underwent dental examinations. Participants rated their oral health as “very good,” “good,” “fair,” “poor,” or “bad.” These self-assessments were compared to clinical findings, including the number of decayed teeth, periodontal status (Community Periodontal Index), and the number of missing teeth.
The ratings showed significant correlations with missing teeth, periodontitis, and dental caries, although lower correlations were observed for gingivitis and oral hygiene index scores. Additionally, most self-reported oral health behaviors correlated with self-rated oral health, except for receiving tooth brushing instructions in a dental clinic, having a primary-care dentist, and habitual snacking between meals.
The study concluded that self-rated oral health provides reasonably valid data, correlating well with clinically assessed oral health status, including dental caries, periodontal status, and tooth loss.
The authors disclosed no potential conflicts of interest.