Toothbrushing, Flossing, and Preventive Dental Visits by Richmond-Area Residents in Relation to Demographic and Socioeconomic Factors

Purpose. This study was conducted to identify factors that influence preventive dental behaviors and, from the results, target groups for intervention.Methods. Data were collected using the 1997 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) resulting in a probability sample of 399 dentate adults living in Richmond City, Henrico, Chesterfield and Hanover Counties in Virginia. All analyses were performed using the statistical software program STATA. Initial hypothesis testing was performed using univariate logistic regression models. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to test the significance of independent variables while controlling for other possible predictors of behavior.Results. Females were more likely than males to brush and floss their teeth at the recommended frequencies (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.4-5.1; OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.5-5.1 respectively). Individuals with higher levels of education were more likely than those with lower levels of education to brush twice daily and have preventive dental visits (OR 4.2, 95% CI 1.3-13.2; OR 5.3, 95% CI 2.0-14.4 respectively). There was no racial difference in the three preventive dental behaviors.Conclusions. Findings suggest that sex and education are important considerations when planning dental health interventions. In the Richmond area, less educated males are in the greatest need of education and other interventions aimed at twice-daily toothbrushing and daily flossing. Further, men and women with lower levels of education are in need of interventions for increasing the utilization of preventive dental services

Internet Safety: Positioning VCU as a National Leader in Internet Safety

While a multitude of information from a host of sources exists on how to keep children safe on the Internet, there is not a unified effort to combine it all and get it to the right people. This is not a plan to teach college students about Internet safety. This is a proposal to begin much earlier, targeting middle-school aged children and their parents, many of whom have no idea of the dangers – and opportunities – that exist in cyberspace

Health disparities among highly vulnerable populations in the United States: a call to action for medical and oral health care

Healthcare in the United States (US) is burdened with enormous healthcare disparities associated with a variety of factors including insurance status, income, and race. Highly vulnerable populations, classified as those with complex medical problems and/or social needs, are one of the fastest growing segments within the US. Over a decade ago, the US Surgeon General publically challenged the nation to realize the importance of oral health and its relationship to general health and well-being, yet oral health disparities continue to plague the US healthcare system. Interprofessional education and teamwork has been demonstrated to improve patient outcomes and provide benefits to participating health professionals. We propose the implementation of interprofessional education and teamwork as a solution to meet the increasing oral and systemic healthcare demands of highly vulnerable US populations