What variables are associated with use of and need for dental prosthesis? A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Population-based studies assessing the factors associated with use of and need for dental prosthesis among older adults are scarce. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of and need for dental prosthesis and associated factors in the older adult population of a southern city of Brazil. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study, involving community-dwelling older adults (≥60 years), was performed. A probabilistic per cluster sampling was used, and 282 participants from Veranópolis, Brazil, were included. A clinical oral health examination was performed, and a structured questionnaire was applied. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to verify associations using Poisson regression with robust variance. RESULTS: The prevalence of use of dental prosthesis was 87.2% (n = 246), while the prevalence of need for dental prosthesis was 27% (n = 76). Older adults with medium/high levels of education had 17.8% (P = .019) lower prevalence ratio (PR) for use of dental prosthesis. Unmarried and retired older adults had, respectively, 11.1% (PR:1.111; 95%CI:1.022-1.207) and 19.5% (PR:1.195; 95%CI:1.009-1.415) higher PR for use of prosthesis. Those without access to dental care had 11.8% (P = .012) higher PR for use of dental prosthesis. Older adults living in rural areas had 64.7% (PR:1.647; 95%CI:1.079-2.514) higher PR of need for dental prosthesis. CONCLUSION: High and low prevalence of use of and need for dental prosthesis, respectively, were detected in this sample. Level of education, marital status, retirement status and access to dental care were associated with the use of dental prostheses. However, only residence area was associated with the need for oral rehabilitation.

Self-reported dentin hypersensitivity in south brazilian adolescents: occurrence and risk indicators / Hipersensibilidade dentinária autorreportada em adolescentes do sul do Brasil: ocorrência e indicadores de risco

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to assess the occurrence of selfreported dentin hypersensitivity (DH) and its risk indicators in adolescents from a southern Brazilian city. 736 students (1519 years old) were randomly selected from 20 public and private schools in the city of Passo Fundo, Brazil. DH was assessed through the answers on a Likert scale to the question: "Do you have tooth sensitivity?".Participants underwent a clinical examination in which present teeth were counted, and answered an interview based on a structured questionnaire on sociode mographic information, history of dental bleaching, orthodontic treatment and oral health habits. The dependent variable (DH) was dichotomized at the point where hypersen sitivity occurs fairly often or always. Data were analyzed by multivariable logistic regression, including demographic, health history, socioeconomic and behavioral variables. Results: 556 (75.5%) subjects reported having sensitive teeth never, rarely or sometimes, while 180 (24.5%) reported having sensitive teeth fairly often or always. In the final model, number of present teeth, age, skin color, flossing, smoking, bleaching and orthodontic history were not associated with selfreported DH. Females showed significantly greater chance of having DH than males [odds ratio (OR)=1.91; 95% confidence interval (95%CI) 1.342.72]. The likelihood of DH in students at public schools was 63% higher than in those at private schools (OR=1.63 95%, CI 1.012.75). DH is a common perception among adolescents and is associated with female gender and studying at public schools.

RESUMO O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a ocorrência de hipersensibilidade dentinária (HD) autorreportada e seus indicadores de risco de uma cidade do sul do Brasil. 736 estudantes (1519 anos) foram selecionados aleatoriamente em 20 escolas públicas e privadas da cidade de Passo Fundo, Brasil. HD foi aferida pela resposta em escala Likert à pergunta: "Você tem sensibilidade nos dentes?". O exame clínico incluía a contagem de dentes presentes e um questionário estruturado foi aplicado incluindo dados sociodemográficos, história de clareamento dental, tratamento ortodôntico e hábitos de saúde bucal.A variável de pendentes (HD) foi dicotomizada no ponto que a hipersensibilidade ocorria repetidamente ou sempre. Os dados foram analisados por meio de regressão logística multivariada, incluindo variáveis demográficas, histórico de saúde, dados socioeconômicos e comportamentais. Nos resultados 556 (75.5%) indivíduos reportaram experiência de sensibilidade dentinária, nunca raramente ou às vezes, enquanto 180 (24.5%) reportaram ter sensibilidade repetidamente ou sempre. No modelo final, número de dentes presentes, idade, raça, uso do fio dental, tabagismo, histórico de clareamento dental e tratamento ortodôntico não foram associados com HD autorreportada. Mulheres mostraram uma chance significativamente maior de ter HD comparado aos homens [odds ratio (OR)=1,90; 95% intervalo de confiança (95%CI) 1.332.71]. Frequentar escolas públicas aumentou a chance de HD em 63% comparado com escolas particulares (OR=1,63 95%IC 1.012.75). HD é uma percepção comum entre adolescentes e está associada com gênero feminino e estudar em escolas públicas.

Self reported dentin hypersensitivity in south brazilian adolescents: occurrence and risk indicators.

The aim of this study was to assess the occurrence of selfreported dentin hypersensitivity (DH) and its risk indicators in adolescents from a southern Brazilian city. 736 students (1519 years old) were randomly selected from 20 public and private schools in the city of Passo Fundo, Brazil. DH was assessed through the answers on a Likert scale to the question: "Do you have tooth sensitivity?".Participants underwent a clinical examination in which present teeth were counted, and answered an interview based on a structured questionnaire on sociode mographic information, history of dental bleaching, orthodontic treatment and oral health habits. The dependent variable (DH) was dichotomized at the point where hypersen sitivity occurs fairly often or always. Data were analyzed by multivariable logistic regression, including demographic, health history, socioeconomic and behavioral variables. Results: 556 (75.5%) subjects reported having sensitive teeth never, rarely or sometimes, while 180 (24.5%) reported having sensitive teeth fairly often or always. In the final model, number of present teeth, age, skin color, flossing, smoking, bleaching and orthodontic history were not associated with selfreported DH. Females showed significantly greater chance of having DH than males [odds ratio (OR)=1.91; 95% confidence interval (95%CI) 1.342.72]. The likelihood of DH in students at public schools was 63% higher than in those at private schools (OR=1.63 95%, CI 1.012.75). DH is a common perception among adolescents and is associated with female gender and studying at public schools.

O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a ocorrência de hipersensibilidade dentinária (HD) autorreportada e seus indicadores de risco de uma cidade do sul do Brasil. 736 estudantes (1519 anos) foram selecionados aleatoriamente em 20 escolas públicas e privadas da cidade de Passo Fundo, Brasil. HD foi aferida pela resposta em escala Likert à pergunta: "Você tem sensibilidade nos dentes?". O exame clínico incluía a contagem de dentes presentes e um questionário estruturado foi aplicado incluindo dados sociodemográficos, história de clareamento dental, tratamento ortodôntico e hábitos de saúde bucal.A variável de pendentes (HD) foi dicotomizada no ponto que a hipersensibilidade ocorria repetidamente ou sempre. Os dados foram analisados por meio de regressão logística multivariada, incluindo variáveis demográficas, histórico de saúde, dados socioeconômicos e comportamentais. Nos resultados 556 (75.5%) indivíduos reportaram experiência de sensibilidade dentinária, nunca raramente ou às vezes, enquanto 180 (24.5%) reportaram ter sensibilidade repetidamente ou sempre. No modelo final, número de dentes presentes, idade, raça, uso do fio dental, tabagismo, histórico de clareamento dental e tratamento ortodôntico não foram associados com HD autorreportada. Mulheres mostraram uma chance significativamente maior de ter HD comparado aos homens [odds ratio (OR)=1,90; 95% intervalo de confiança (95%CI) 1.332.71]. Frequentar escolas públicas aumentou a chance de HD em 63% comparado com escolas particulares (OR=1,63 95%IC 1.012.75). HD é uma percepção comum entre adolescentes e está associada com gênero feminino e estudar em escolas públicas.

Nutritional assessment and associated factors in the elderly: apopulation-based cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess nutritional status and associated factors in elderly individuals. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in residential homes with a probabilistic cluster sample. Two-hundred eighty-seven individuals 65-74 y of age were interviewed and examined in the city of Cruz Alta, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. A structured questionnaire was used to assess the socioeconomic, behavioral, and general health conditions; the number of present teeth were counted. Nutrition was assessed with a validated instrument-the Mini Nutritional Assessment-which classifies the patient as normal (eutrophic), at nutritional risk, or malnourished. For data analysis, the participants were categorized in eutrophic or at nutritional risk (at risk of malnutrition + malnourished). The associations were assessed by either the χ2 or Mann-Whitney tests. Uni- and multivariate Poisson regression analyses verified the associations. The significance level was set at 5%. RESULTS: The prevalence of nutritional risk was 48.4%. In the multivariate model, edentulous individuals with no complete denture or with only one complete denture (prevalence ratio PR, 1.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.18-2.13) and elderly individuals with no access to the dentist (PR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.11-1.88) presented higher potential for nutritional risk than their respective controls. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that approximately half of the participants (48.4%) were at nutritional risk. The lack of complete or partial rehabilitation of edentulous patients and the lack of access to the dentist were associated with higher nutrition risk.

Self-reported Use of Dental Floss over 13 Years: Relationship with Family Income, Mother's Age and Educational Level.

PURPOSE: To determine whether family income, age and educational level of the mother of the family are associated with self-reported use of dental floss over a 13-year period in a city in southern Brazil. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A comparison of two household surveys was carried out where mothers of the family were interviewed using a structured questionnaire in order to obtain demographic, behavioural and socioeconomic information. In total, 852 and 984 households were included in 1996 and 2009, respectively. Self-reported use of dental floss was assessed dichotomously (yes/no). Poisson regression models were fitted to study the association between sociodemographic variables with the use of dental floss. Proportion ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were reported. RESULTS: The proportion of dental floss use increased from 48% to 59% over 13 years. The probability of dental floss use increased 1.23 times from 1996 to 2009 (PR = 1.23; 95% CI 1.13-1.34). Households with mothers ≥50 years old presented a 28% lower probability of using dental floss than households with mothers ≤35 years old. In households with higher family income and higher educational level of the mother, probabilities of flossing were 90% and 97% higher. CONCLUSION: Family income, age and educational level of the mother of the family are associated with self-reported use of dental floss over 13 years.