Meggan M. H. Wehmeyer|Caleb L. Corwin|Janet M. Guthmiller|Jessica Y. Lee
The impact of oral health literacy on periodontal health status
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston|University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill|University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill|University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
objective study describe oral health literacy ohl among periodontal patients examine association periodontal health statusthis crosssectional study included new referred patients presenting university north carolina graduate periodontology clinic sociodemographic dental history information collected ohl measured using dental word recognition instrument rapid estimate adult literacy30 reald30 clinical periodontal examinations completedone hundred twentyeight participants enrolled 121 completed study examinations instruments despite high level education among participants study low levels ohl found onethird 33 percent study population thirtyone percent moderate ohl score 2225 37 percent high ohl score 26 mean reald30 score 23 fiftythree percent participants severe periodontitis 29 percent moderate periodontitis 18 percent mild periodontitis bivariate analysis showed significant association ohl periodontal status p 005 effect ohl periodontal health status remained statistically significant p 0002 even controlling smoking race dental insurancelower ohl associated severe periodontal disease among new referred patients presenting university north carolina graduate periodontology clinics