Tooth loss and dental visits by Indigenous American Indian/Alaska Native adults in the USA

Abstract

Introduction: The purpose of this research was to determine if there is a difference in dental visits or missing teeth among Indigenous people in the USA (American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) adults) by geographic and metropolitan settings. Methods: Data were obtained from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), 2020, limited to AI/AN adults ≥18 years, n=6640. Participants self-identified as AI/AN adults, and provided information about residence, dental status, and dental visits within the previous year. Results: There were significantly more adults with missing teeth among rural AI/AN adults as compared with urban AI/AN adults. In adjusted analysis, adjusted odds ratio was 1.33 (95%CI: 1.02-1.73; p=0.04) for missing teeth in rural AI/AN adults as compared to urban AI/AN adults. AI/AN adults had similar percentages of dental visits within the previous year regardless of their rural/urban status or region of the country. Overall, there were 3738 (54.7%) who had a dental visit within the previous year. Conclusion: Interventions addressing rural AI/AN adults in maintaining teeth are critically needed.

Keywords

• AI/AN adults
• Alaska Native
• American Indian
• disparities
• edentulism
• tooth loss