Abstract
Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare
the oral health status of migrants to Japan with that
of Japanese using the questionnaire and the Oral
Health Status Index (OHSI). Methods: The questionnaire
for collecting demographic and behavioral
variables and the OHSI were applied in a
mixed migrant/Japanese sample of patients from a
dental clinic in Yokohama. A sample of 224 subjects,
52% of whom were migrants, was selected
from new patients. Results: The mean OHSI
scores were 78.56 for migrants and 83.16 for
Japanese (p<0.01). Multiple regression analysis of
OHSI showed that the statistically significant contributors
were: age, status (migrants / Japanese),
reason for initial visit, perceived oral health, and
flossing behavior. Conclusion: The oral health
status of migrants was worse than that of
Japanese even though they were younger than
Japanese. The present public support system for
foreign patients and their self-care behavior were
considered to be the factors for the inequity in oral
health status.
