Benjamin Chaffee DDS, PhD
Professor, Preventative & Restorative Dentistry Science
University of California San Francisco
Talk Title: Oral Health at the Transition to Adulthood

Oral diseases are among the most common chronic conditions of humankind. Their origins can often be traced to economic and behavioral circumstances much earlier in life. Emerging adulthood, the transition period from adolescence to adulthood, is a potential pivot point in economic opportunity, health behaviors, and chronic disease trajectories that has garnered limited attention in oral health research. In this presentation, we describe ongoing work within the Economic and Educational Contributions to Emerging Adults' Cardiometabolic and Oral Health (“3E”) Study, which follows college students from three public universities in California. Our research combines detailed measures of economic, social, and behavioral factors with high-quality assessments of oral and systemic health to identify behavioral pathways connecting economic factors to disease risk, potentially revealing health promotion opportunities during this formative developmental period. Such insight advances a long-term objective to understand the influences of oral diseases near their emergence and inform more effective oral disease prevention and health promotion.

Deborah Lynne Jones Weiss, PhD
Professor of Psychology
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Talk Title: Oral Health Related Quality of Life (OHRQOL) and Dental Care Utilization in Women from the Comprehensive Research on Oral and Mental health among Women (CROWN) study

Oral Health Related Quality of Life (OHRQOL) is lower in people living with HIV compared to those without HIV. Mental health symptoms may exacerbate disparities in women living with HIV (WLWH). This study examined dental care utilization and OHRQOL in WLWH and women living without HIV (WLWOH), and the relationship between depression and OHRQOL. Using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14), OHIP-14 scores were compared by depression groups. Participants (N = 201) were primarily Non-Hispanic or Black (74%), mean age 48.8 years (SD = 14.0); 59% were WLWH; 57% met the threshold for depression. Overall, 22% currently took medications affecting oral health, 12% had dry mouth; 8% were treated for it. Those depressed had worse OHRQOL (mean OHIP-14 = 14.6 ± 13.0 compared to 7.63 ± 8.48, p < 0.001). Those depressed had more oral symptoms (5.79 ± 3.33 vs. 4.50 ± 3.07, p = 0.011) and greater dental anxiety (9.73 ± 4.12 vs. 8.35 ± 4.01, p = 0.032). Overall, depression was associated with worse OHRQOL among WLWH and may both cause and arise from poor oral health and OHRQOL. Findings underscore the need to integrate mental health, dental, and HIV care systems to address factors contributing to oral health disparities.