Measuring oral health from a public health perspective.

The paper aims to analyse measures of oral health-related quality of life (OHQOL) from a Public Health perspective. Twenty-two measures were analysed conceptually as to their mirroring of the Public Health principles: empowerment, participation, holism and equity. Elements of empowerment were found in connection with application of the measures.

Differences in four reported symptoms related to temporomandibular disorders in a cohort of 50-year-old subjects followed up after 10 years.

Objective: To assess possible changes in the prevalence of four temporomandibular disorder (TMD) symptoms reported by subjects at age 50 and again 10 years later.

Material And Methods: Identical questionnaires were sent out in 1992 and in 2002 to all subjects born in 1942 and living in two Swedish counties. Of those who answered the four questions on TMD symptoms in 1992, 74% responded in 2002 (n=4639).

Patient satisfaction with dental care in one Swedish age cohort. Part II--What affects satisfaction.

The aim of this study was to investigate satisfaction with dental care in relation to dental care factors, recent dental care experiences, past dental care experiences, general health factors, oral health factors and socio-economic factors and all over time. All persons born in 1942 in two counties in Sweden, Orebro and Ostergötland, were surveyed by post in 1992 at the age of 50, and resurveyed at the age 55. There were 5363 persons responding at both times, constituting the study group.

Patient satisfaction with dental care in one Swedish age cohort. Part 1--descriptions and dimensions.

The aim of this study were to investigate the dimensionality of satisfaction with dental care, to control the reproducibility of the analysis over time, to investigate changes between the two studied years and to relate satisfaction with elapsed time since the most recent visit to dental care. All persons born in 1942 in two counties in Sweden, Orebro and Ostergötland, were surveyed by post in 1992 at the age of 50 and resurveyed at the age of 55. There were 5363 persons responding at both times, constituting the study group.

Changes in reported orofacial symptoms over a ten-year period as reflected in two cohorts of fifty-year-old subjects.

Objective: The study presents changes in reported orofacial symptoms over the course of a 10-year period. It was hypothesized that there was an increase of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) and orofacial pain symptoms during the period concurrent with social and demographic changes.

Material And Methods: All 50-year-old subjects living in two Swedish counties were asked to answer a mail questionnaire in 1992 and 2002.

General health and tobacco habits among middle-aged Swedes.

Background: Convincing scientific evidence exists that smoking has devastating effects on health. The use of smokeless tobacco (snuff) as a tobacco habit has been reported to be considerably less harmful, and has been suggested as an aid to smoking cessation, among other things.

Methods: Cross-sectional data on general health and tobacco habits were obtained through a self-administered mail questionnaire in 2002 representing 50-year-old (n = 6236) and 60-year-old (n = 6232) Swedes in two counties.

Assessment of smoking behaviors in the home and their influence on children's passive smoking: development of a questionnaire.

Purpose: To construct and validate a questionnaire aiming to measure children's exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) in the home.

Methods: The development of the instrument included epidemiological studies, qualitative interviews, pilot studies, and validation with biomarkers and is described in seven consecutive steps. Parents of preschool children, from different population-based samples in south-east Sweden, have participated in the studies.

Self-perceived orthodontic treatment need and culturally related differences among adolescents in Sweden.

The aim of this investigation was to compare Swedish and immigrant groups of 12- and 13-year-old boys and girls with respect to: (1) self-perceived need for and attitude to orthodontic treatment, (2) attitude to own teeth and general appearance, (3) behaviour pattern and psychosocial functioning, and (4) self-perceived need for orthodontic treatment in relation to psychosocial functioning. The subjects comprised 508 students, aged 12 and 13 years, living in Sweden, who were grouped according to nationality: (A) both parents born in Sweden (139 girls and 131 boys); at least one parent born in: (B) eastern Europe (27 girls and 34 boys); (C) Asia (66 girls and 61 boys) and (D) other countries (23 girls and 27 boys). Each student answered a questionnaire in the classroom.

Knowledge on periodontal disease before and after a mass media campaign.

The aim of this study was to evaluate if a mass media campaign regarding periodontal disease could increase the knowledge in the general population of diagnoses, symptoms and treatment options of periodontal disease. More specifically, the aim was to investigate the number of correct answers to knowledge questions before and after the campaign. The Swedish Association of Periodontology conducted the campaign through brochures, newspapers, radio and TV.

Changes over 5 years in utilization of dental care by a Swedish age cohort.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the temporal development of the utilization of dental care, in relation to socio-economic factors and also considering perceived oral health, attitudes to dental care, dental anxiety, care organisation and changes in the way that dental care is paid for. A conflict model was used as a theoretical framework.

Methods: In 1992, a mail questionnaire was sent to all 50-year-old persons in two counties in Sweden, Orebro and Ostergotland, as part of a cross-sectional study.

Associations between social and general health factors and symptoms related to temporomandibular disorders and bruxism in a population of 50-year-old subjects.

The aim of this epidemiological study was to examine associations between temporomandibular (TMD)-related problems and variables from three domains: (1) socio-economic attributes, (2) general health and health-related lifestyle, and (3) dental attitudes and behaviors. The overall response rate to a questionnaire mailed to the total population of 50-year-old subjects in two Swedish counties (8,888 individuals) was 71%. Among the 53 questions in the questionnaire, those related to social, general health, and health-related factors were used as independent variables in logistic regression models.

Perceived oral health: changes over 5 years in one Swedish age-cohort.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate if a change in the social gradients in perceived oral health occurred over a 5-year period, 1992-97, using a cohort population from two Swedish counties.

Methods: In 1992, a cross-sectional mail questionnaire was sent to all 50-year-old persons in two counties in Sweden, Orebro and Ostergötland, and altogether there were 8888 persons. In 1997, the same population was sent a new questionnaire.

Gender difference in symptoms related to temporomandibular disorders in a population of 50-year-old subjects.

Aims: To investigate, by means of a mail questionnaire, the prevalence of symptoms related to temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in 50-year-old subjects living in the counties of Orebro and Ostergötland, Sweden.

Methods: The total population comprised 8,888 individuals, and the overall response rate was 71%. A clinical evaluation of the masticatory system was performed in subgroups to validate the responses to the questionnaire.

Indoor and outdoor smoking: impact on children's health.

Background: Many children are exposed to ETS (environmental tobacco smoke), which has both immediate and long-term adverse health effects. The aim was to determine the prevalence and nature of smoking among parents with infants and the association of indoor or outdoor smoking with the health of their children.

Methods: Mail-questionnaire study, which was performed in a county in the south-east of Sweden, as a retrospective cross-sectional survey including 1990 children, 12-24 months old.

Epidemiological dental indices and self-perceived oral health in adolescents: ecological aspects.

The aim of this study was to investigate the correlations between epidemiological indices (objective) and self-perceived oral health (subjective) in adolescents at school level, and to study gender differences in epidemiological indices and in self-perceived oral health. The study comprised two sets of data from Skaraborg County, Sweden: 1. Self-reported questionnaires answered by adolescents at all senior level schools (n = 9,559, 13-15 years).

Survival time of Class II molar restorations in relation to patient and dental health insurance costs for treatment.

The aim was to evaluate the median survival time (MST) of direct molar class II restorations (glass ionomer, composite, amalgam) in the Nordic countries and the initial cost, as well as, the theoretical cost per year of function of treatment for patients, Social Insurance Office (SI), and total cost, at Public Dental Services (PDS) in Sweden. Restoration longevity studies conducted in general practice settings in the Nordic countries were used to calculate the MSTs of class II restorations. The initial costs were based on fee schedules from all PDS in Sweden.

Long-term cost of direct Class II molar restorations.

The aim was to evaluate the theoretical long-term treatment costs of direct class II molar restorations (amalgam, composite, glass ionomer) using the Median Survival Times (MSTs) derived from longevity studies conducted in the Nordic countries as time for replacement. Theoretical long-term cost calculations were based on fee schedules from all Public Dental Services (PDS) in Sweden, for patients, Social Insurance Offices (SI), and total cost. Costs over 10 years were calculated and sensitivity calculations were conducted in order to demonstrate the effect of different MSTs on the long-term cost development.

Adolescents' perceptions of oral health and influencing factors: a qualitative study.

Accounts of self-perceptions of oral health have hitherto been rare, although they are of great interest for strategies in health promotion. The objective of this study was to increase our knowledge of adolescents' perceptions of oral health and influencing factors. Semi-structured interviews of 17 Swedish adolescents were performed.