Research


Living arrangements A total of 86 participants gave information on their current living arrangements. Of the remaining group, seven participants did not give a response, and nine partici- pants ticked more than one box. From the answers given: three participants were classified as ‘roof- less’, either living rough or living at a night shelter; 83 were classified as ‘houseless’, living in a hostel (33), short-stay temporary accommo- dation (3ı), long-stay transitional accommodation (six), sofa surfer (one), residential care (one) and supported accommodation (ıı).


Health and health behaviours Physical health Of the Lanarkshire sample, 42 per cent (43) reported that they were receiving medical treatment from their general medical practitioner and/or from specialists either in primary or secondary care. Almost one fifth of those surveyed (ı9 per cent) reported having chest diseases (including asthma), and ı7 per cent reported that they bruised/bled easily. Other physical illnesses included hypertension (9 per cent ), epilepsy (4 per cent), heart disease (3 per cent) and diabetes (3 per cent). Five per cent of partici- p ants s t a t e d that they


were HIV-positive or Hepatitis C-positive.


Prescribed medication Fifty per cent of the sample (5ı participants) stated that they were taking prescribed medication. A total of 49 participants stated the type of medicine(s) they were currently taking. The largest propor- tions of prescribed medication were anti-depressants, analgesics, chest/ asthma medication and anxiolytics/ hypnotics.


Tobacco use The majority of the Lanarkshire sample (79 per cent) reported being smokers. Seventy-nine per cent of men and 77 per cent of women smoked. The number of cigarettes smoked daily ranged from two to 60, and the median number of cigarettes smoked daily was 20. Smoking remained fairly consistent across the age groups, with the greatest proportion of smokers aged 25-34 years old (94 per cent). Percentages for other age groups: ı6-24 years (70), 35-44 years (82), 45-54 years (85) and over 55 years (83).


Alcohol use Thirty-nine per cent (40) of the Lanarkshire participants stated that they drank alcohol on most days. Forty-six per cent of men compared with ı9 per cent of women stated that they drank alcohol on most days. The distribu- tion of alcohol drinkers according to age groups included: ı6-24 years (4ı per cent), 25-34 years (29 per cent), 35-44 years (4ı per cent),


Fillings


Extractions Dentures


Scale and polish


Fluoride treatments Fissure sealants Abscess Crowns


Bridge work X-rays


Injection in gum Laughing gas (RA)


Injection in arm (IV sedation) General anaesthetic (gas)


Table 1: Reported dental treatment ever received Lanarkshire Total sample n = 102 81% 70% 16% 46% 17% 18% 52% 19% 12% 78% 84% 24% 29% 41%


n = 853 85% 76% 30% 55% 14% 13% 58% 22% 11%


76% 88% 27% 30% 40%


45- 54 years (46 per cent) and over 55 years (33 per cent).


Drug use A total of 60 participants (59 per cent) stated that they had used drugs, with 26 participants (25 per cent of the Lanarkshire sample) stating that they were current drug users at the time of the survey. Seventeen partici- pants who currently took drugs stated that they were injecting drug users.


Oral health status and oral health behaviours Obvious decay experience For the Lanarkshire participants, 3ı per cent of obvious decay expe- rience was composed of decayed teeth (decay into dentine), 48 per cent by missing teeth and 2ı per cent by filled teeth. This suggested that these participants had their decayed teeth extracted rather than filled.


Plaque The total mean plaque score for the Lanarkshire sample was ı.09. The mean plaque score for the upper teeth was 0.99 and for the lower teeth ı.ıı. Mean plaque scores were higher for men (ı.ı8) compared to women (0.82).


Edentulousness Four participants (three male, one female) had no natural teeth. This represented 4 per cent of the Lanarkshire participants. Edentu- lousness was evenly represented across the age groups with one edentulous person aged 25-34 years, one aged 35-44, one aged 45-54, and the fourth aged 55+.


Denture A total of ı2 participants (ı0 male, two female) in the sample wore dentures at the time of the survey. Six wore complete upper dentures and two wore complete lower dentures. Six participants wore upper partial dentures and four wore partial lower dentures. Two participants had both


upper and lower full dentures and seven had upper and lower partial dentures. One lower denture was lost. Seventy-five per cent of upper and 34 per cent of lower complete and partial dentures were judged


Scottish Dental magazine 47 Continued »


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