459 - Impact of Food Swamps on Children’s Oral Health in Virginia

Abstract:

Purpose: To examine the association between quality of available food retailers and oral health status

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. Quality of available food retailers was based on patient zip code and the Retail Food Environment Index, using publicly available data. Oral health status was determined from VCU Dental Clinic’s electronic dental records. RFEI score was compared between those with and without caries experience using a t-test. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine associations with caries experience.

Results: A total of 3431 unique patients were included in the analysis and 21% (n=736) had caries experience. Patients were 49% female, 75% government-insured, 3% uninsured, and 21% privately insured. RFEI was higher among those with caries but not significantly different (6.9 versus 6.8, p=.5902). Factors significantly associated with caries experience included: patient age at their initial exam (p < .0001), gender (p=.0075), and insurance type (p < .0001). Female patients (OR: 1.26; 95% CI: 1.06-1.49), Government-insured (OR: 2.0; 95% CI: 1.58-2.53), uninsured (OR: 2.03; 95% CI: 1.22, 3.38), and patients who were older at their initial visit (OR: 1.14; 95% CI: 1.11, 1.17) were more likely to have caries experience. RFEI was not significantly associated with caries experience in the multivariable model (p=.5525).

Conclusion: Sociodemographic factors were stronger predictors of caries experience than the quality of available foods.

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