Oral Healthcare Challenges for Older Punjabi-Speaking Immigrants Publisher Pubmed



Macentee MI¹ ; Wong ST² ; Smith A³ ; Beattie BL⁴ ; Brondani M¹ ; Bryant SR¹ ; Graf P⁵ ; Soheilipour S⁶
Source: Canadian Journal on Aging Published:2014

Abstract

This study explored how older Punjabi-speaking South-Asian immigrants (four focus groups; 33 participants) in Surrey, British Columbia, perceive oral health and related problems. Content analysis revealed two umbrella themes: (a) interpretations of mouth conditions and (b) challenges to oral health. The umbrella themes had four sub-Themes: damage caused by heat (wai), disturbances caused by caries, coping with dentures, and quality of life. Three challenges were considered: home remedies, Western dentistry, and difficulties accessing dentists. Participants explained oral diseases in terms of a systemic infection (resha), and preferred to decrease imbalances of wai in the mouth with home remedies from India. We conclude that older Punjabi-speaking immigrants interpret oral health and disease in the context of both Western and Ayurvedic traditions, and that they manage dental problems with a mix of traditional remedies supplemented, if possible, by elective oral health care in India, and by emergency dental care in Canada. © 2014 Canadian Association on Gerontology.