Factors that Affect Dental Caries in the Patient Population of Volunteer Dental Outreach
for Haliburton County

Title

Factors that Affect Dental Caries in the Patient Population of Volunteer Dental Outreach
for Haliburton County

Author

Jessica Marshall

Host Organization

Volunteer Dental Outreach for Haliburton County, Lisa Kerr

Supervising Faculty

Dr. Holly Bates, Biology

Date

2021

Location of Document

on-line

Area

Haliburton County

Subject

Health, Dentistry

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to gain insight into the relationships between patient
demographics, patient health and their dental caries at Volunteer Dental Outreach for Haliburton
County (VDOHC). Data collection consisted of a survey regarding patient demographics,
general health, and oral health status and the factors that affect the number of teeth with dental
caries was analyzed. It was hypothesized that accessibility to dental care for low-income
individuals will affect the number of teeth with dental caries, that age will affect the number of
teeth with dental caries, that gender will affect the number of teeth with dental caries, and that a
diagnosis of diabetes mellitus (DM) will affect the number of teeth with dental caries. The results
supported the first hypothesis and found that patients who received dental care at VDOHC had a
higher average number of decayed, missing, and filled teeth than the Canadian population in the
lowest equivalized household income quintile. The subsequent hypotheses were not supported
based on the results that were found in this study. Understanding the relationships between
patient demographics, general health and oral health status will assist in improving patient
treatment at VDOHC.

Publisher

Trent University

Files

Reference

Jessica Marshall, Factors that Affect Dental Caries in the Patient Population of Volunteer Dental Outreach
for Haliburton County
, Trent University, 2021