High prevalence of potential psychotropic drugs interactions among Brazilian dental patients.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of potential drug-drug interactions involving psychotropics prescribed by dentists, and dispensed by the public healthcare system, as well as to describe the severity and level of evidence of those interactions in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted data analysis from pharmaceutical claims in which dental patients received systemic psychotropics in 2017. Data from the Pharmaceutical Management System provided the drug dispensing history of the patients, allowing the identification of those on concomitant medication use. The outcome was the occurrence of potential drug-drug interactions, which were detected according to IBM Micromedex®. Independent variables were the patient's sex, age, and the number of drugs used. Descriptive statistics was performed using SPSS v. 26. RESULTS: Overall, 1480 individuals were prescribed psychotropic drugs. The prevalence of potential drug-drug interactions was 24.8% (n = 366). The total of 648 interactions was observed and, most of which were of major severity (n = 438, 67.6%). Most interactions occurred in female individuals (n = 235; 64.2%), with 46.0 (±17.3) years-old, concurrently taking 3.7 (±1.9) drugs. CONCLUSION: A substantial proportion of dental patients presented potential drug-drug interactions, mostly of major severity, which might be life-threatening.

Do changes in income and social networks influence self-rated oral health trajectories among civil servants in Brazil? Evidence from the longitudinal Pró-Saúde study.

BACKGROUND: Social factors are important determinants of health. However, evidence from longitudinal studies on the possible role of changes in socioeconomic circumstances on adult's oral health is scarce. This study aimed to test whether changes in income and changes in social networks of family members and friends were associated with trajectories of self-rated oral health (SROH) among adults over a 13-year period. METHODS: A prospective cohort study (Pro-Saude Study) was conducted involving non-faculty civil servants at university campi in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Individual data was collected through self-completed questionnaires in four waves (1999, 2001, 2007 and 2012). SROH trajectories between 2001 and 2012 were "Good-stable SROH", "Changed SROH", "Poor-stable SROH". Per capita family income and social networks of family members and friends data obtained in 1999 and 2012 were grouped into "High stable", "Increase", "Decrease", "Low stable". Ordinal logistic regression using complete data of 2118 participants was used to estimate odds ratio (OR) and 95% CIs of changes in income and changes in social networks with SROH trajectories, adjusted for age, sex, skin colour and marital status. RESULTS: Participants in the low income-stable and small social networks-stable groups showed 2.44 (95% CI 1.68-3.55) and 1.98 (95% CI 1.38-2.85) higher odds for worst trajectory of SRHO than those in the respective high-stable groups. Those in the decrease income group and decrease social networks group were 78% (95% CI 1.25-2.54) and 58% (95% CI 1.07-2.34) more likely to worst trajectory of SRHO than those in the high income-stable and high social networks-stable groups. CONCLUSIONS: Adults reporting low income and low social networks of family members and friends over 13 years and those with income and social networks decrease during the study period were at higher risk of having worsened their self-rated oral health.

Association of sociodemographic factors with the prescription pattern of opioids for dental patients: a systematic review.

Aim To evaluate the association of patients' sociodemographic factors (sex, age, ethnicity, income, educational level, living environment and health insurance) with the prescription pattern of opioids provided by oral health practitioners.Methods Observational studies that evaluated the association of patients' sociodemographic factors and the likelihood of receiving an opioid prescription provided by an oral health practitioner were eligible. Electronic searches were conducted in Medline (PubMed), Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, LILACS, SciELO, Google Scholar, and OpenGrey up to March 2021. Two authors independently screened the studies, performed data extraction, and assessed the risk-of-bias using the critical appraisal tools developed by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI). Certainty of the evidence was assessed with the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE).Results Eight studies were included in this systematic review. Publication year ranged from 2011 to 2021. Narrative synthesis showed with very low certainty of evidence that younger individuals were more likely to receive a prescription of opioids than older individuals. Regarding the other sociodemographic factors and the prescriptions of opioids in dentistry, the evidence is controversial. Risk of bias was low for most items assessed in the included studies.Conclusion The available evidence suggests that there is an association between patients' sociodemographic factors and the prescription patterns of opioids provided by oral health practitioners.

Assessment of patient knowledge on warfarin: An item response theory approach.

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: There are no instruments to assess the patient's knowledge of oral anticoagulation with warfarin, in which the performance of the items has been evaluated through the item response theory. To evaluate psychometric properties of the Brazilian version of the Oral Anticoagulation Knowledge Test, using the item response theory. METHODS: This methodological study was developed in an anticoagulation clinic of a university hospital with a sample of 201 patients treated with warfarin. The item response theory was used to evaluate questions regarding psychometric properties and the performance of the Brazilian version of the Oral Anticoagulation Knowledge Test items. The unidimensionality hypothesis was analysed by decomposing the polychoric correlation and the Cronbach's alpha coefficient. An item characteristic curve of the 20 items of the instrument was made to identify the discrimination power of each item of the performance scale. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Correlations were positive and statistically significant among the 20 items, with a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.82. The difficulty parameter ranged from -4.14 to 0.42. The discrimination parameter ranged from 0.41 to 1.89. The items regarding drug-drug/drug-food interactions were able to differentiate knowledge about oral anticoagulation with greater accuracy. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: This study is the first that uses this methodology to evaluate the knowledge on oral anticoagulation therapy with warfarin. The evaluation using item response theory showed that the Brazilian version of the Oral Anticoagulation Knowledge Test is suitable for assessing the patient's knowledge of oral anticoagulation with warfarin. Thus, our findings confirmed the utility of this instrument and provided an essential point of reference for the structuring of health education activities that ensure the individualization of educational interventions in patients on warfarin.

Efficacy and safety of diode laser during circumvestibular incision for Le Fort I osteotomy in orthognathic surgery: a triple-blind randomized clinical trial.

The aim of this triple-blind randomized clinical trial was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of diode laser during circumvestibular incisions for Le Fort I osteotomy in orthognathic surgeries in comparison with conventional techniques using electrocautery and scalpel. Patients were randomly allocated to one of three groups based on the technique employed to perform incisions: diode laser, electrocautery, and scalpel. The parameters used to evaluate the efficacy and safety of diode laser were incision velocity, duration of surgery, bleeding rate, alterations in postoperative functions, pain, edema, wound clinical healing, and infection. Thirty patients were enrolled in the study (10 per group). Regarding bleeding, the incisions performed with diode laser promoted a lower bleeding rate compared with scalpel and electrocautery (p = 0.00). The diode surgical laser was effective during the incision procedure, but required a longer time to perform the incisions compared with the other techniques evaluated (p < 0.05). No statistically significant difference was detected between groups regarding total surgical time or other safety parameters (p > 0.05). Thus, diode laser proved to be effective and safer during circumvestibular incisions for Le Fort I osteotomy than conventional devices.

Clinical factors associated with the recurrence of central giant cell lesions.

Central giant cell lesion of the jaws (CGCLJ) is a destructive condition that shows a varied and unpredictable biological behaviour. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate factors associated with the recurrence of CGCLJ. Based on the data of a previous systematic review of 2270 cases of CGCLJ, we used the multiple imputation to deal with the missing data. The dependent variable was the recurrence after the first treatment (yes/no). The dichotomic covariates were sex, upper or lower jaw location, size (up to or larger than 4 cm), pain, cortical bone perforation (yes/no), locularity (uni-/multilocular), tooth displacement (yes/no), treatment type (curettage or enucleation) and root resorption (yes/no). The final logistic model indicated that the tumours associated with tooth displacement, root resorption and treated with curettage had a more significant chance of recurrence. In conclusion, our study suggests that tooth displacement, root resorption and the type of treatment are potentially useful in the future construction of an algorithm for patient's treatment.

Impact of untreated dental caries severity on the quality of life of preschool children and their families: a cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: Untreated dental caries is a persistent oral problem among preschool children. Although there is vast evidence regarding the impact of dental caries on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in this age group, evidence on the impact of untreated caries severity is scarce. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of untreated caries severity on the OHRQoL of preschool children and their families. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 563 individuals in the city of Goiania, Brazil. Data were collected through interviews with parents/caregivers and clinical examinations of their children. The OHRQoL was measured by the Brazilian version of the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale. Untreated dental caries severity was assessed using validated indices. Other independent variables were socioeconomic, toothache prevalence, and the questionnaire respondent. Statistical analysis involved bivariate comparisons and Poisson regression analyses. RESULTS: A higher prevalence of impact on OHRQoL was found among preschool children with untreated dental caries with clinical consequences (PR 1.31; 95% CI 1.01-1.70) compared to those without caries; those aged 5 years (PR 1.47; 95% CI 1.18-1.82), compared to those aged two; and those with a toothache (PR 1.54; 95% CI 1.34-1.76), compared to those without toothache. Moreover, fathers (PR 0.71; 95% CI 0.55-0.92) and other respondents (PR 0.70; 95% CI 0.52-0.96) perceived less impact on the OHRQoL in comparison to mothers. CONCLUSIONS: Severe untreated dental caries with clinical consequences had a negative impact on the children's OHRQoL, regardless of toothache and socioeconomic factors.

Healthy and cariogenic foods consumption and dental caries: A preschool-based cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association of the consumption of healthy and cariogenic foods with the prevalence of untreated dental caries among preschool children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 427 5-year-old preschoolers. Caries was evaluated through a clinical examination using dmft index. Parents/guardians answered a questionnaire addressing socioeconomic status, eating frequency, and oral hygiene habits. RESULTS: The prevalence of untreated caries was 51%. The multiple models demonstrated a seven percent increase in the prevalence of untreated caries with each additional daily contact with cariogenic foods, whereas a four percent reduction in this prevalence rate was found for each additional contact with healthy foods. When the number of daily contacts with cariogenic and healthy foods was incorporated into the same model, the former reached only borderline statistical significance (p = 0.05), whereas the latter maintained an association with lower caries rates (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: A dietary assessment based solely on the frequency of the consumption of cariogenic foods may not be sufficient to understand the occurrence of dental caries in preschool children. It is necessary a more comprehensive evaluation of the dietary pattern, once a healthy diet can present an association with lower prevalence of caries even among preschool children who consume cariogenic foods.

Impact of Caries Severity/Activity and Psychological Aspects of Caregivers on Oral Health-Related Quality of Life among 5-Year-Old Children.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of the severity/activity of dental caries as well as sense of coherence (SOC) and locus of control (LOC) on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among 5-year-old children. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 769 children at schools in a city in northeast Brazil. Parents/caregivers answered validated questionnaires addressing SOC and LOC. The children and parents/caregivers answered their respective modules of the Brazilian version of the Scale of Oral Health Outcomes for 5-year-old children (SOHO-5). Data were also collected on sociodemographic characteristics, visits to the dentist, and the occurrence of toothache. Clinical examinations were performed by 2 trained examiners. A directed acyclic graph was used to select covariates for statistical adjustment, and logistic regression for complex samples was used to test associations between the dependent and independent variables (α = 5%). For parents/caregivers, the variables associated with a negative impact on OHRQoL were the occurrence of toothache (odds ratio, OR: 10.53; 95% confidence interval, CI: 6.34-17.51; p < 0.001) and a low SOC (OR: 2.17; 95% CI: 1.37-3.43; p = 0.001). According to the children's perceptions, the following variables were associated with a negative impact on OHRQoL: toothache (OR: 3.58; 95% CI: 2.30-5.55; p < 0.001), caries activity (OR: 1.97; 95% CI: 1.07-3.62; p = 0.028), and traumatic dental injury (OR: 1.71; 95% CI: 1.15-2.53; p = 0.007). Among parents/caregivers, a low SOC led to poorer OHRQoL. For the children, however, neither psychological aspect affected OHRQoL. In the perception of both the parents/caregivers and children, toothache was the oral condition that exerted a negative impact on OHRQoL.

Association of breastfeeding and malocclusion in 5-year-old children: Multilevel approach.

BACKGROUND: Breastfeeding plays an important role in child health, including the development of normal dental occlusion, but large epidemiological findings on the association breastfeeding-malocclusion are lacking. AIM: To investigate the association between the proportion of breastfed children in the city level and the prevalence of malocclusion in the primary dentition at age 5. DESIGN: This cross-sectional analysis used data from national population surveys on oral health and on breastfeeding practices. Data refer to 5278 5-year-old children and 44 Brazilian towns. Information on malocclusion and individual sociodemographic characteristics were obtained from the 2010 Brazilian Oral Health Survey. Breastfeeding rates during the first year of life were extracted from the Breastfeeding Prevalence Survey in Brazilian Towns. Population sociodemographic data were analysed as confounder. Multilevel Poisson analyses were performed. RESULTS: Malocclusion prevalence was 63.3%. Towns exhibiting higher prevalence of breastfeeding among 9- to 12-month-olds presented lower prevalence of malocclusion among children at age 5 (PR 0.98; 95% CI 0.98-0.99). CONCLUSIONS: Lower prevalence of malocclusion among 5-year-old children was associated with a higher proportion of children breastfed at ages 9 to 12 months at a city level, regardless of sociodemographic factors. These findings highlight the importance of encouraging breastfeeding during a child's first year.

Caries severity declined besides persistent untreated primary teeth over a 22-year period: Trends among children in Goiânia, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Evidence of time trends in early childhood caries in low- and middle-income countries in the second decade of the year 2000 is scarce. AIM: To assess the trends in early childhood caries prevalence and severity in 2- to 5-year-old children over a 22-year period (1993-2015) in Goiânia, Midwest Brazil. Additionally, we aimed to investigate the changes regarding affected dental arches and teeth. DESIGN: A time-lag analysis of trends in caries was carried out using data from three cross-sectional studies based on the World Health Organization diagnostic criteria, in 1993 (N = 1362), 2001 (N = 1620), and 2015 (N = 548). RESULTS: Caries prevalence declined from 45.1% in 1993 to 29.0% in 2015. Prevalence of severe caries (dmft ≥ 6) in 2015 was nearly one-third of that found in 1993, and the SiC index (mean dmft of the highest tertile) decreased from 4.55 to 3.32. Decline was higher in the 1993-2001 than in the 2001-2015 time-lag. Posterior teeth and second molars had the greatest reductions. High proportions of untreated caries were found in all ages and survey years. CONCLUSION: There were significant changes in caries prevalence and severity, marked by a striking decline from 1993 to 2001, followed by a less prominent decrease up to 2015, and high levels of untreated caries.

Some Malocclusion Traits Significantly Reduce Quality of Life Among Adults.

ARTICLE TITLE AND BIBLIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION: Malocclusion traits and oral health-related quality of life in Finnish adults. Masood M, Suominen AL, Pietila T, Lahti S. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2017;45:178-88. SOURCE OF FUNDING: Finnish Dental Society Apollonia and the Finnish Dental Association TYPE OF STUDY/DESIGN: Cross-sectional study.

Temporal trend in the reported birth prevalence of cleft lip and/or cleft palate in Brazil, 2000 to 2013.

BACKGROUND: The birth prevalence of cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL/P) in Brazil increased between the years from 1975 to 1994 but has not been evaluated for temporal trend since then. METHODS: We used data from the Brazilian National Health Information System for the years 2000 through 2013. We calculated the reported CL/P birth prevalence each year per 10,000 live births and estimated the average increase in reported prevalence per year (and 95% confidence interval [CI]) by fitting a negative binomial regression model. We also estimated the temporal trend in each of the five Brazilian regions for this time period. RESULTS: The overall reported birth prevalence was 4.85 (95% CI, 4.78-4.91) per 10,000 live births. The reported birth prevalence of CL/P increased over this time period, from 3.94 (95% CI, 3.73-4.17) per 10,000 in 2000 to 5.46 (95% CI, 5.20-5.74) per 10,000 in 2013. The temporal trend differed for different Brazilian geographic regions, being confined primarily to the Northeast (4.7% per year; 95% CI, 4.0%-5.5%), North (3.3% per year; 95% CI, 1.8%-4.7%), and Central (2.9% per year; 95% CI, 0.9%-4.9%) regions. CONCLUSION: In recent years, there appears to be an upward trend in the reported prevalence of CL/P in Brazil, confined to the less developed regions of the country. The increase likely reflects improved surveillance; whether it also reflects etiologic differences is unknown. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 106:789-792, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Assessment of psychometric properties of the Brazilian version of the oral anticoagulation knowledge test.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Brazilian version of the Oral Anticoagulation Knowledge (OAK) Test. METHODS: This study, conducted in an anticoagulation clinic, included 201 Brazilian participants aged over 18 years, who had been using warfarin for more than two months. The reliability of the instrument was evaluated by assessing internal consistency (Kuder-Richardson coefficient) and reproducibility (test-retest reliability). The validity was evaluated by hypothesizing that there would be a positive correlation of moderate to strong intensity between the correctness levels of the OAK Test and time within therapeutic range (TTR) values, which is a measure used to evaluate the quality of oral anticoagulation. RESULTS: The instrument exhibited good psychometric properties. The total a Kuder-Richardson coefficient value was 0.818 and intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.967. The validity revealed a strong positive correlation between the values of the level of knowledge, as measured by the OAK Test and the TTR values (rs = 0.780). CONCLUSION: The instrument proved to be a reliable and valid tool for evaluating the knowledge of Brazilian patients on oral anticoagulation therapy with warfarin. This instrument may be incorporated into the practice of health care for substantiating the structuring of educational activities to ensure the improvement of knowledge about the use of warfarin, thereby increasing the effectiveness and safety of treatment.

Agreement between adolescents and parents or caregivers in rating adolescents' quality of life during orthodontic treatment.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to assess the agreement between Brazilian adolescents and their parents or caregivers regarding the adolescents' oral health-related quality of life during orthodontic treatment. METHODS: The sample consisted of 102 adolescent-parent/caregiver pairs. Adolescents answered the short form of the child perceptions questionnaire, and the parents or caregivers answered the parental-caregiver perceptions questionnaire. These questionnaires have 14 items in common organized across 4 subscales: oral symptoms, functional limitations, emotional well-being, and social well-being. Agreement on the overall score and the subscales was determined using comparison and correlation analysis. The former was performed through comparison of the mean directional and absolute differences. The latter was analyzed using the intraclass correlation coefficient. RESULTS: The mean directional difference was significant for the oral symptoms subscale, with parents' reports lower than adolescents' reports (P = 0.012). However, it was not significant for the other 3 subscales and the overall score (P >0.05). The mean absolute difference for the overall score was 5.15, representing 9.2% of the maximum possible score. The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.66, indicating substantial agreement. CONCLUSIONS: There was agreement between adolescents and their parents or caregivers in rating adolescents' oral health-related quality of life during orthodontic treatment.

Cytokine measurements in gingival crevicular fluid and periodontal ligament: Are they correlated?

INTRODUCTION: Mechanical stress can induce molecular changes in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and the periodontal ligament (PDL). It is still not clear whether changes in the PDL and GCF are linked. In this study, we aimed to analyze the expression of cytokines in GCF and PDL after mechanical stress. METHODS: Twenty-three healthy patients were included. The experimental group consisted of premolars subjected to a force of 0.980 N for 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, or 28 days. The contralateral teeth were the controls. GCF and PDL samples were collected at the same time points for analysis of cytokines using the cytometric bead array. RESULTS: Interleukin (IL)-6 (IL-6) production was significantly elevated in the PDL on day 1 after force application. Significantly strong positive correlations between GCF and PDL in experimental group were seen on days 3 (interferon-gamma), 7 (IL-10), 14 (IL-17A), and 28 (IL-17A, tumor necrosis factor-alpha), and significantly strong negative correlation were seen on days 14 (interferon-gamma) and 21 (IL-2, IL-10). CONCLUSIONS: Different patterns of IL-6 expression were seen in the PDL and GCF after mechanical stress. Despite occasional correlations between GCF and PDL, the molecular contributions of the PDL to the GCF changes could not be clearly defined by our model.

Metallothionein immunoexpression in selected benign epithelial odontogenic tumors.

BACKGROUND: Odontogenic tumors exhibited variable biologica behaviors. Metallothionein (MT) is correlated with the cellular homeostasis of essential metals, cellular differentiation, and proliferation. The core goals of this study are (i) to report and to compare MT expression among benign epithelial odontogenic tumors; (ii) to correlate MT with cellular proliferation index; and (iii) to evaluate the influence of the inflammatory infiltrate on MT expression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten cases of solid ameloblastomas (SABs), 4 squamous odontogenic tumors (SOTs), 5 adenomatoid odontogenic tumors (AOTs), and 3 calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumors (CEOTs) were subjected to immunohistochemical to anti-MT, anti-Ki-67, and anti-PCNA. Statistical analysis was performed using BioEstat(®) 4.0. RESULTS: Metallothionein staining was found to be the highest in the SABs (93.1%), followed by SOTs (52.9%), AOTs (38.4%), and CEOTs (0%). MT staining exhibited statistically significant differences between the SABs and the SOTs (P = 0.0047) and the AOTs (P = 0.0022). A weak-to-strong positive correlation between IMT and IK or IP was observed in SABs and SOTs, whereas a strong negative correlation was observed in AOTs. No differences in IMT, IK, and IP were observed between inflammation groups A and B. CONCLUSIONS: The increased MT expression observed in the SABs might be correlated with clinical behavior (local invasiveness and high rate of recurrence). In the SABs and SOTs, MT plays a role in the stimulation of cellular proliferation. In contrast, MT can inhibit cellular proliferation in the AOT. The IMT, IK, and IP are not affected by inflammation.

Profile of usage of a reference diagnostic service on oral pathology: a 10-year evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Despite the professional and academic relevance of the Brazilian oral pathology diagnostic laboratories, no information about their usage profile is available in the English literature. The objective of the present study is to report data about the histopathological and immunohistochemical exams performed in a Brazilian regional reference laboratory of oral pathology, as well as its main users. METHODS: Information about all histopathological exams performed between 2002 and 2012 was retrieved from the files of the Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology Service of the School of Dentistry of Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Data collected included: 1) requestor of exam; 2) diagnosis classification; and 3) immunohistochemical tests. Descriptive statistical analyses were done. RESULTS: 13,522 histopathological exams were performed, mean 1,229/year. The Public Health System of the city of Belo Horizonte was the main requestor of exams (77.13%), followed by private professionals (19.26%), and other cities (2.03%). Most lesions were considered benign (12,599/ 93.17%), with 854 malignant lesions (6.32%). 469 immunohistochemical tests were performed; 324 (69.08%) were from benign diagnosis, and 145 (30.92%) from malignant diagnosis. The most used antibodies were against S100, vimentin, smooth muscle actin, actin muscle specific HHF-35, and pan-cytokeratin AE1/AE3. CONCLUSIONS: Public Health System is the major user of the diagnostic service on oral pathology in our institution. Most diagnoses were of benign lesions, although many malignant lesions were detected. Immunohistochemistry was particularly important in solving challenging cases.

Comparing adult users of public and private dental services in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Studying the factors associated with the use of dental services can provide the necessary knowledge to understand the reasons why individuals seek out public healthcare services and the formulation of more appropriate public policies for the present-day reality. METHODS: This work was a cross-sectional epidemiological study consisting of a sample of adults found in a research databank concerning the conditions of the oral health of the population of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. This study examined both main oral health disorders and relevant socioeconomic aspects. The dependent variable was defined as the type of service used, categorized under public and private use. The independent variables were selected and grouped to be inserted in the analysis model according to an adaptation of the behavioral model described by Andersen and Davidson. A hierarchical model was used to analyze the data. The description of variables and bivariate analyses were performed in an attempt to verify possible associations. For each group of variables at each hierarchical level, the gross and adjusted odds ratios (OR) and the respective 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated by means of logistic regression. The Complex Samples model from the SPSS statistics program, version 19.0, was used to analyze the sample framework. RESULTS: In the final model, the factors associated with the use of public healthcare services by adults were directly related to the socioeconomic and demographic conditions of the individuals, including: being of a dark-skinned black race/color, belonging to families with more than four household residents and with a lower income level, residing in small towns, having more teeth that need treatment. CONCLUSIONS: According to the findings from this study, socioeconomic and demographic factors, as well as normative treatment needs, are associated with the use of public dental services.