Social network, social support and dental status in elderly Swedish men

Abstract

Abstract— The objective of this study was to investigate whether there were associations between different aspects of social network and social support and dental status. The study sample (n = 621) comprised a random half of all male residents in Malmö, Sweden, born in 1914. Five hundred (80.5%) participated. Eight conceptually different aspects of social networks and social support were measured, and all men were clinically examined regarding number of teeth, prevalence of removable dentures, fixed bridges and anterior open tooth spaces. We found that some aspects of dental status were associated with social class, while others were associated with different aspects of social network and social support. Prevalence of complete dentures and fixed bridges was strongly associated with social class, a low number of functioning teeth was associated with both low social class belonging and an insufficient social network and social support, while anterior open tooth spaces were associated mostly with an insufficient social network and social support. This study shows that there are significant associations between some aspects of dental status and the social network and social support of the individual, while other aspects of dental status are associated with social class, which from a psychosocial perspective contribute to a deeper understanding of the backgrounds of dental status.

Responsiveness of the Prosthetic Esthetic Scale

“…In contrast, the zone was judged with no regard to the pre-treatment tooth status. A replacement was considered to be in the esthetic zone if the replaced tooth/teeth were within the following region: incisors, canines, and 1st premolar in the upper jaw and incisors and canines in the lower [14]. A replacement was considered to be in the masticatory zone if the replaced tooth/teeth were within the following region: the 2nd premolar and the 1st and 2nd molar in the upper jaw and both premolars and 1st and 2nd molar in the lower jaw.…”

Social Support and Optimism in Relation to the Oral Health of Young Adults

“…Other psychosocial factors such as optimism have also been linked to health outcomes [2]. General health examples include higher mortality rates among those with weaker social networks [3], while dental examples include low numbers of functioning teeth associated with insufficient social support [4], and the association of optimism with self-reported oral health [5].…”

Life events and oral-health-related quality of life among young adults

“…For example, higher mortality rates have been reported among those with weaker social networks [4], while low numbers of functioning teeth have been associated with insufficient social support [5]. Social support can be considered to act downstream from social-structural conditions such as cultural norms that condition the nature of social networks, and impacts on health through behavioural, psychological and physiological pathways [6].…”