Canadian Community Health Survey
Oral Health Questions – Core set
and Optional set
Very little data exists
at the national level regarding the oral
health status of Canadians. To
begin addressing this fundamental planning requirement, Health Canada, First
Nations and Inuit Health Branch on behalf of the
Federal/Provincial/Territorial Dental Directors Working Group requested in
2001 that Dr. David Locker, Community Dental Health Services Research Unit,
University of Toronto, undertake a review of the literature and then recommend a set of validated questions that could
be used by telephone interviews, such as the Statistics Canada, Canadian
Community Health Survey (CCHS).
The attached set of questions was part
of that report which was then reviewed and priorized by the F/P/T Dental working group. Through further discussions with Statistics
Canada, several oral health questions were included on the pilot testing for CCHS in November 2002. Three questions were accepted into the “ core “ grouping and became part of the 35 minute standardized general survey
that was conducted in all 136 health regions/districts of Canada. The other 13 questions form
the Oral Health set that are among the 20 plus issue specific health
questionnaire sets of the “optional group.” Each health region/district had the opportunity to choose one or two of
the optional sets to fill the additional 10 minutes, making up 45 minutes in
total time.
Once tested and modified, the final questions listed below were incorporated into the Canadian Community Health Survey for 2003, version 2.1. They were also included in the 2005 and 2007 versions 3.1 and 4.1.
Statistics Canada
Canadian Community
Health Survey - Core Questions
1. In general, would you say the health of your
teeth and mouth is:
1 … excellent?
2 … very good?
3 … good?
4 … fair?
5 … poor?
2. Can you:
… chew firm foods (e.g., meat)?
… bite off and chew a piece of fresh apple?
… chew boiled vegetables?
3. In the past month, how often have you had any
pain or discomfort in your teeth or gums?
1 Often
2 Sometimes
3 Rarely
4 Never
Optional Questions
1. Do you usually visit the dentist:
1 … more than once a year for check-ups?
2 … about once a year for check-ups?
3 … less than once a year for check-ups?
4 … only for emergency care?
2. Do you have insurance that covers all or part
of your dental expenses?
1 Yes
2 No
3 DK
3. In the past 12 months, have you had any teeth
removed by a dentist?
1 Yes
2 No
3 DK
.... were any
teeth removed because of decay or gum disease?
1 Yes
2 No
3 DK
4. Do you have one or more of your own teeth?
1 Yes
2 No
3 DK
5. Do you wear dentures or false teeth?
1 Yes
2 No
3 DK
6. Because of the condition of your [teeth, mouth or
dentures/teeth or mouth], do you have difficulty pronouncing any words or
speaking clearly?
1 Yes
2 No
3 DK
7. In the past 12 months, how often have you
avoided conversation or contact with other people, because of the condition of
your [teeth, mouth or dentures/teeth or mouth]?
1 Often
2 Sometimes
3 Rarely
4 Never
8. In the past 12 months, how often have you
avoided laughing or smiling, because of the condition of your [teeth, mouth or
dentures/teeth or mouth]?
1 Often
2 Sometimes
3 Rarely
4 Never
9. Now some questions about the health of your
teeth and mouth during the past month.
In the past month, have you had:
… a toothache?
1 Yes
2 No
3 DK
In the past month, were your teeth:
… sensitive to hot or cold food
or drinks?
1 Yes
2 No
3 DK
In the past month, have you had:
… pain in or around the jaw
joints?
1 Yes
2 No
3 DK
… other pain in the mouth or
face?
1 Yes
2 No
3 DK
… bleeding gums?
1 Yes
2 No
3 DK
… dry mouth?
1 Yes
2 No
3 DK
… bad breath?
1 Yes
2 No
3 DK
10. How often do you brush your teeth?
1 More than twice a day
2 Twice a day
3 Once a day
4 Less than once a day but more than once a week
5 Once a week
6 Less than once a week
DK
11. It was reported earlier that you have "seen"
or "talked to" a dentist in the past 12 months. Did you actually visit one?
1 Yes
2 No
DK
12. When was the last time that you went to a
dentist?
1 Less than 1 year ago
2 1 year to less than 2 years ago
3 2 years to less than 3 years ago
4 3 years to less than 4 years ago
5 4 years to less than 5 years ago
6 5 or more years ago
7 Never
DK
13. What are the reasons you have not been to a
dentist in the past 3 years?
1 Have not gotten around to it
2 Respondent - did not think it was necessary
3 Dentist - did not think it was necessary
4 Personal or family responsibilities
5 Not available - at time required
6 Not available - at all in the area
7 Waiting time was too long
8 Transportation - problems
9 Language - problem
10 Cost
11 Did not know where to go / uninformed
12 Fear (e.g., painful, embarrassing, find something wrong)
13 Wears dentures
14 Unable to leave the house because of a health problem
15 Other - Specify
DK
