Oral Health Inequalities in Adolescents and Young Adults in Ontario
Abstract
Oral health is consistently linked to physiological, psychological, and social aspects of well-being in adolescents and young adults. In this thesis, I aimed to examine the social determinants of oral health and dental care utilization. First, I conducted a scoping review of the literature, demonstrated the multifaceted nature of oral health and its connections to broader social and economic factors. Then, I conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the Canadian Community Health Survey which showed a social gradient in oral health and dental care utilization among adolescents and young adults in Ontario. When stratified by age, there was a protective association between social and living conditions with oral health for young adults but not for adolescents. Further research should focus on addressing the social determinants of oral health in comprehensive oral health promotion efforts targeting adolescents and young adults.