Examining the social determinants of oral health using self-reported oral health measures and salivary biomarkers
Campbell, Kennedy
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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/130014
Description
Title
Examining the social determinants of oral health using self-reported oral health measures and salivary biomarkers
Author(s)
Campbell, Kennedy
Issue Date
2025-06-30
Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)
Riis, Jenna L
Department of Study
Health and Kinesiology
Discipline
Community Health
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
M.S.
Degree Level
Thesis
Keyword(s)
Salivary biomarkers
self-reported oral health
oral health measures
Abstract
Oral health is an important public health issue, as oral diseases affect millions of Americans. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the association between self-reported oral health, salivary biomarkers, and the social determinants of health (SDOH). This study uses a fully remote design with a non-invasive approach to assess oral health. Evaluating the effects of the social determinants of health is crucial to understanding the non-medical factors that may influence oral health outcomes, especially for marginalized communities affected by health disparities. This study utilized a cross-sectional design with 52 healthy adult participants across the United States. Participants provided saliva samples on three days and completed self-reported questionnaires. Biomarkers examined in this study included salivary IL-1β, IL-6, C-Reactive Protein, IgG, MMP-8, and transferrin concentrations. Key results of this study showed that MMP-8 had the strongest associations with self-reported teeth and gum health with higher concentrations associated with worse health, and IL-1β, IgG, and transferrin showed similar moderate associations. There were more significant associations between the SDOH and the self-reported oral health measures than the biomarker concentrations. Perceived stress, everyday discrimination, and air quality were statistically significantly associated with self-reported oral health. Education was statistically significant with self-reported teeth problems. IL-6 was significantly associated with neighborhood deprivation. This study provides a scalable approach for comprehensive investigations of oral health with future practice and policy implications.
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