Self-Medication for Toothache and its Associated Factors in Children and Adolescents

Objective: To evaluate self-medication for toothache and its associated factors in children and adolescents. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out with 252 children/adolescents aged 6-16 years. A questionnaire was applied with questions related to demographic and socioeconomic characteristics; experience of, and self-medication for, toothache; as well as aspects related to the condition. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses (Pearson's Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test) were performed, with a 5% significance level. Results: The prevalence of toothache was 41.7%. In 96 cases analyzed, there was prevalence of 69.8% of self-medication for toothache. There were no statistically significant associations between self-medication for toothache and variables related to the children/adolescents (gender and age), their parents or guardians (age and schooling), socioeconomic characteristics (family income and number of people in the household) and aspects related to toothache (fever, crying and school absenteeism) (p>0.05). The most commonly used drug was paracetamol (60.7%), whose choice was based to its previous use by the study population for conditions not related to toothache (47.8%). Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of self-medication for toothache in the study population. No independent variable was associated with self-medication practice.

Sociodemographic and behavioral factors associated with dental caries in preschool children: Analysis using a decision tree.

BACKGROUND: Untreated dental caries can result a negative impact on oral health-related quality of life. AIMS: The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of dental caries and associated factors in children enrolled in public preschools in the city of Recife, Brazil. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A descriptive, analytical, cross-sectional study was conducted with a representative random sample of 556 children aged 3-5 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were collected through clinical examinations using the International Caries Detection and Assessment System. The parents answered a questionnaire addressing sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics. Two examiners underwent training and calibration exercise for the calculation of interexaminer agreement (Kappa index of 0.83). STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: In addition to descriptive data, an inductive decision tree was constructed to analyze the results (Algorithm J48; α = 5%). RESULTS: The prevalence of dental caries was 92.1%. The following factors were associated with dental caries: brushing performed by the child (prevalence ratio [PR] = 4.39, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.57-7.51 P < 0.001), household income less than the minimum wage (PR = 1.79; 95% CI: 1.18-2.72, P = 0.005), brushing frequency (PR = 1.50; CI 95%: 0.50-4.49; P = 0.001), and parent's/caregiver's school equal to an incomplete elementary school education (PR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.56-1.74, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence of dental caries in children was high and was associated with brushing performed by the child, household income less than the monthly minimum wage, low brushing frequency, and low parent's/caregiver's schooling.

Influence of Oral Problems and Biopsychosocial Factors on the Utilization of Dental Services by Preschool Children.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of oral problems and biopsychosocial factors on the use of dental services by preschoolers. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out with preschoolers in northeastern Brazil. Parents answered questions on visits to the dentist and sociodemographic characteristics, and completed the Brazilian version of the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale. An oral examination was performed by three dentists who were calibrated for the diagnosis of dental caries, traumatic dental injury, and malocclusion. Descriptive statistics and Poisson regression analysis with robust variance were performed (α equals five percent). RESULTS: There were 841 children in the study whose prevalence rate of utilization of dental services was 24 percent. Utilization was significantly associated with the child's age, mother's schooling over eight years, household income, severity of dental caries, and impact on the quality of life of the family. CONCLUSION: Caries severity, sociodemographic factors, and psychological factors exerted an influence on the utilization of dental services by preschool children.