ORAL HEALTH STATUS OF UNDOCUMENTED IMIGRANTS IN GHENT,BELGIUM

Abstract

Aim: The present survey aimed to explore the oral health and the level of care within a sample of undocumented immigrants.

Methods: Data were collected between February 2015 and November 2016 from a convenience sample of illegal immigrants who visited ‘De Tinten, an organisation that provides material and social assistance to illegal immigrants in Ghent, Belgium . Participants were asked to be involved in an oral health screening, including an interview and visual inspection by two trained dentists. After oral consent, they were interviewed on age, nationality and smoking habits. Oral health parameters included D3MFt, PUFA index, Restorative Index (RI=(Ft/D3Ft)*100), Care Index (CI=Ft/D3MFt) and Treatment Index (TI= (MFt/D3MFt). Periodontal health was determined by means of the DPSI score. Plaque index of Sillness and Löe (1964) was used to measure the amount of dental plaque. Different age groups were compared based on the 25, 50 and 75 percentiles, using Chi Square statistical test for dichotomous and One-way ANOVA test for continuous variables. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the University Hospital Ghent (2015/1340).

Results: 204 subjects were assessed, with a mean age of 36.7 years (SD=15.9) and age ranging from 1 to 69 years. Almost half (73 (46.3%) of the respondents reported to be smokers. Mean plaque index was 1.37 (SD=0.84). Untreated dental caries was visible in 146 (71.6%). Of those with caries, 74 (46.7%) had at least one tooth with a visible pulpal exposure. The level of care was low, with an average restorative index of 30.3% (SD=36.9) and treatment index of 51.5% (SD=37.9). Periodontal health was poor, 97 (62.2%) ) having a DPSI score of 3 or 4. A very low mean treatment index (23.1%) was seen in the youngest age group, compared to 80.5% in the oldest age group (p<0.001).

Conclusion: Undocumented people show very poor oral health, both in terms of caries and poor periodontal status. The need for dental care is high, especially in the youngest age group.