Ethnicity, aging, and oral health outcomes: findings from the International Collaborative Study of Oral Health Outcomes (ICS-II) USA Research Sites.

The World Health Organization (WHO) launched the first International Collaborative Study of Dental Manpower Systems in Relation to Oral Health Status conducted from 1973-1981. The study, focusing on manpower features of dental care delivery systems, surveyed three age groups, students (8-9 years and 13-14 years) and a middle age cohort (35-44 years). Ethnic group differences were assessed in a standardized set of oral health outcome variables, as well as predisposing, enabling and need characteristics collected from three research sites. The unique data set contains comparable data on African-American, American Indian, Hispanic, and White adults. Differences in oral health outcomes were considered within the context of different dental care delivery systems. Findings indicated dental care delivery system factors were not the primary determinant of oral health status. Greater availability of manpower and access to dental services did not appear to be directly related to better oral health status. The study concluded other factors, such as beliefs of the population regarding oral health, personal health practices, and the commitment of a country and its dental profession to implementing prevention activity, might be of equal or greater importance.