Abstract

Purpose: To determine the oral health status among adult employees in Kuwait.

Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on a convenience sample (n = 1294) of adult employees. Their ages ranged from 19 to 77 years (mean 36.2). Six trained and calibrated dentists examined them using a mouth mirror and a WHO ball-tip probe. Caries was scored using WHO diagnostic criteria. The debris index simplified (DI-S) score was used to assess oral hygiene status.

Results: Overall, the mean DMFT in the adults was 10.3. The DMFT increased from 7.8 for the age group 19-24 years to 10.7 at 35-44 years and 18.9 at 65-77 years (p < 0.001). Females had slightly higher caries experience (DMFT) (11.0) than did males (10.1) (p = 0.021), and Kuwaitis (11.1) more than non-Kuwaitis (8.9) (p < 0.001). The proportion of caries-free adults was 28%. In multivariate analysis, adults with poor oral hygiene (OR=1.5; 95% CI=1.2-2.1), those with an intermediate-school (grades 6 to 9) or lower level of education (OR=2.6; 95% CI=1.4-4.7), Kuwaitis (OR=1.3; 95% CI=1.0-1.7), those with oral pain (OR=1.4; 95% CI=1.0-1.8), and those needing urgent dental care (OR=4.6; 95% CI=2.6-8.0) were statistically significantly associated with caries risk. About 19.6% of these adults had good, 36.1% fair and 44.4% had poor oral hygiene. Nearly one-third (32.9%) of adults had perceived oral pain at the time of examination.

Conclusion: Implementing oral health programs is needed and efforts should be made to promote oral hygiene practices in workplaces among adults in Kuwait.

Keywords: Kuwait; adult employees; dental caries; oral health; oral hygiene; oral pain.