Oral Status in Relation to Demographic, Socioeconomic, Medical and Psychosocial Risk Factors Among Outpatients in Addiction Treatment Centers, Stockholm, Sweden.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate oral status in relation to demographic, socioeconomic, medical and psychosocial risk factors among outpatients receiving treatment for Substance Use Disorder (SUD).

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 91 outpatients from Stockholm, Sweden. Oral status was assessed using the Decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth (DMFT) index and Probing Pocket Depth (PPD). Psychosocial and functional factors were evaluated using the Addiction Severity Index (ASI), which measures problem severity in areas such as medical and social functioning, and the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF), which assesses overall social and occupational functioning. Data were analysed using non-parametric correlations and logistic regression.

RESULTS

The mean DMFT was 12.4 (±8.1), with missing teeth (MT) as the dominant component. The median PPD was 28. The logistic regression analysis showed significant associations between risk factors and oral status variables. Age ≥ 40 years was associated with fewer teeth (OR: 3.52, 95% CI: 1.30-9.54), higher DMFT (OR: 8.88, 95% CI: 3.43-23.01) and more severe PPD (OR: 5.64, 95% CI: 1.95-16.32). Low education (< 9 years) was associated with fewer decayed teeth (DT) (OR: 0.23, 95% CI: 0.09-0.59) and lower PPD values (OR: 0.29, 95% CI: 0.10-0.86). These results highlight the significant influence of age and education on oral status among patients with SUD.

CONCLUSION

This study identified relationships between oral status and several demographics, socioeconomic, medical and psychosocial risk factors among patients with SUD. Age was the strongest predictor of oral status, with low education being the only significant socioeconomic risk factor.