Is there homogeneity in periodontal health between African Americans and Mexican Americans?

OBJECTIVES

This study identified and contrasted prevalence and predictors of periodontitis among African Americans, Mexican Americans, and non-Hispanic Whites in the US adult population.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study. This study compared those with and without periodontitis in each racial/ethnic group.

METHODS

This study was limited to records of US African-American, Mexican-American, and non-Hispanic White adults at least 17 years of age who received a complete periodontal assessment as part of the dental examination in the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988-1994).

RESULTS

Despite the findings that Mexican Americans were less educated, poorer, and had less insurance coverage than African Americans, Mexican Americans had a similar prevalence of periodontitis as non-Hispanic Whites. African Americans had the highest prevalence among all groups. A similar scenario was observed in the multiple logistic analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

Mexican Americans had periodontal health profiles closer to non-Hispanic Whites than did African Americans, despite the shared "minority" status. Public health research and practice should explicitly recognize that while "minorities" are considered a homogeneous group, they do not necessarily share the same health profiles.