| New Hispanic growth in North Carolina brought challenging healthcare issues, especially to rural areas of NC. The purpose of this study was to collect baseline data pertaining to the oral health of Hispanics residing in Siler City, NC, a microcosm of the flourishing Latino growth found especially in the southeastern United States. A convenience sample of 158 Hispanic adults was recruited. A 41-item Spanish language survey was utilized. Multiple choice questions and Likert-type scales addressed preventive oral health practices, oral health knowledge and beliefs, perceived needs, and demographic information. Analyses, using SAS 9, were conducted to find demographic characteristics, frequencies, and correlations. The following associations were found statistically significant (p < .05): (1) brushing frequency and belief that healthy gums bleed; (2) dental insurance and frequency of dental visits; (3) source of oral hygiene instruction and participant's reported brushing or flossing, and dental visit frequency. |
