Abstract

Tooth loss is the accumulation of oral health hazards such as lack of access to dental care, inappropriate health behavioural, low socioeconomic status. Studies have also shown more tooth loss among racial/ethnic minorities. Racial discrimination has been associated with racial/ethnic disparities in health, affecting the individual and population health. The study aims to evaluate the association between race-ethnicity and tooth loss and the role of socioeconomic status, health behaviours, health services access and self-reported discrimination. Baseline cross-sectional data were obtained from the Pro-Saúde Cohort Study (Rio de Janeiro-Brazil) in 4030 civil servants, and analysed with ordered logistic regression. The outcome was self-reported tooth loss measured in four ordered categories. In the unadjusted model, browns, blacks and other ethnic groups increased the chances of having more missing teeth if compared to white, respectively the OR was 2.46 (p<0.01), 3.21 (p<0.01) and 2.99 (p=0.01). In the full model, adjusted for behavioural, socioeconomic, dental care and demographic variables, the OR was, respectively 1.27 (p<0.05), 1.43 (p<0.05) and 3.92 (p<0.05) for browns, blacks and other ethnic groups respectively. There was no significant association between tooth loss and self-reported discrimination.