Survey of oral health practices among adults in a North Carolina Hispanic population.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to collect baseline data pertaining to the oral health of Hispanics residing in Siler City, NC, a microcosm of the flourishing Latino growth found especially in the southeastern United States.

Methods: A convenience sample of 158 Hispanic adults was recruited. A 41-item Spanish language survey was utilized. Questions addressed preventive oral health practices, oral health knowledge and beliefs, perceived needs, and demographic information.

Results: Analysis of data were conducted to find demographic characteristics, frequencies, and correlations. The following associations were found statistically significant (p < .05): (1) brushing frequency and belief that healthy gums bleed; (2) dental insurance and frequency of dental visits; (3) source of oral hygiene instruction and participant's reported brushing or flossing, and dental visit frequency.

Conclusions: This exploratory study found that this population lacks knowledge related to oral health and that they have indicated an overwhelming need for preventive dental prophylaxis. Characteristics found in this population were low income, low education, no dental insurance, and not speaking fluent English. The following suggestions may aid in eliminating dental health care disparities among this population: 1) training and recruiting oral health care providers that are culturally sensitive and speak Spanish; 2) conducting oral health promotional programs sensitive to the needs of Hispanics; 3) Dental Hygiene programs should expand clinical rotations to provide culturally diverse dental hygiene services; 4) changes should be made in North Carolina dental hygiene practice laws to increase care to underserved population.