DOI
https://doi.org/10.25772/P9KH-2E46
Defense Date
2023
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Dentistry
Department
Dentistry
First Advisor
Tegwyn Brickhouse, DDS, PhD
Second Advisor
Caroline K. Carrico, PhD
Third Advisor
Carol Caudil, DDS
Fourth Advisor
Jayarakumar Jayaraman, B.D.S., M.D.S., F.D.S.R.C.S., M.S., Ph.D.
Abstract
Purpose: The aim of this analysis of survey data was to assess the influence of living within a food desert as a predictor of oral health problems among children of East Henrico County, Virginia.
Methods: Survey participants were recruited and questionnaires applied online. Residing in a food desert, using access to affordable produce as a proxy value, was the independent variable, while self- reported assessment of the child’s oral health status was the primary outcome variable. Analyses controlled for other indirect factors of pediatric oral health. Logistic regression was used to model the association between the self-reported access to healthy fruits and vegetables and history of dental pain for the child.
Results: A significant association between a child experiencing recent dental pain and: a child having a dental visit within the last 12 months; the child’s ethnicity; and the guardian’s education level. An association approaching statistical significance was identified between access to affordable produce and experiencing dental pain (p-value=.0504). At the community level, those that lived in food deserts had 2.22 times increased odds of reporting dental pain for a child than those considered to not live in food deserts.
Conclusion: A moderate association was found between access to affordable produce and experiencing dental pain. Additional randomized, population-based studies would be beneficial to improve our understanding of this association.
Rights
© The Author
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
5-8-2023