Use of dental services during pregnancy and associated factors / Uso de serviço odontológico durante a gravidez e fatores associados

The aim this study was to evaluate the association between the use of dental services and the sociodemographic characteristics and perceptions of oral health of pregnant women living in amunicipality of southern Brazil. The instrument used in this cross-sectional study was a questionnaire composed of questions about sociodemographic characteristics, perceptions of oral health and access to dental services, administered to 102 pregnant women during prenatal care. Descriptive analyses of the variables were performed, along with multivariate analyses for the estimation in a logistic regression model. The mean age of the women was 29±6.2 years. The area of residence, first pregnancy, and the perception that pregnancy impairs oral health and causes weakening of teeth remained significant predictors of dental consultation. The chances of not having had a dental appointment were significantly higher for pregnant women who lived in the countryside, by more than three times; those who believed that pregnancy damages teeth, more than five times; and those teeth were weakened during this period, more than eight times. Furthermore, not being the first pregnancy was a protective factor for not having dental appointment.Women who are pregnant for the first time, living in rural areas and with misperceptions about dental conditions during pregnancy, did not consult during pregnancy (AU).

O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a associação entre a utilização de serviços odontológicos e as características sociodemográficas e percepções sobre saúde bucal de gestantes residentes em um município do Sul do Brasil. O instrumento utilizado no estudo transversal foi um questionário composto por questões sobre características sociodemográficas, percepções de saúde bucal e acesso a serviços odontológicos, aplicado a 102 gestantes durante o pré-natal. Foram realizadas análises descritivas multivariadas das variáveis em modelo de regressão logística. A média de idade das mulheres foi de 29±6,2 anos. A zona de residência, a primeira gravidez e a percepção de que a gravidez prejudica a saúde bucal e causa enfraquecimento dos dentes permaneceram como preditores significativos da consulta odontológica. As chances de não ter feito consulta odontológica foram significativamente maiores para as gestantes residentes na zona rural em mais de três vezes; as que acreditavam que a gravidez danifica os dentes em mais de cinco vezes; e que os dentes enfraqueceram nesse período mais de oito vezes. Além disso, não ser a primeira gravidez foi fator de proteção para a consulta odontológica. Mulheres grávidas pela primeira vez, residentes na zona rural e com percepções equivocadas sobre as condições odontológicas durante a gestação, não utilizaram o serviço odontológico durante a gestação (AU).

Prevalence of xerostomia and its association with systemic diseases and medications in the elderly: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Dry mouth syndrome or xerostomia is defined as decreased salivary flow or hypofunction of salivary glands. Its origins are multicausal and might be the result of a change in the salivary glands or a systemic imbalance. OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the prevalence of self-reported xerostomia and to identify associated factors. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study on the entire population of 293 elderly people over 60 years of age living in a Brazilian municipality. METHODS: Data were gathered from a questionnaire that asked about demographic data, chronic diseases and use of continuous medications, and which used the Xerostomia Inventory (XI) to evaluate dry mouth sensation. Our analysis consisted of multivariate regression and estimation of odds ratios (OR) and their respective 95% confidence intervals (CI) in binary logistic regression models. RESULTS: The prevalence of self-reported xerostomia was 19.1%. Elderly people with diabetes had higher odds of having self-reported xerostomia (OR: 3.59; 95% CI: 1.48-8.68; P < 0.001) as did those who had chronic diseases and used continuous medication (OR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.19-4.67; P = 0.009). Elderly people who used continuous medication for the gastrointestinal tract were more likely to have xerostomia (OR: 2.14; 95% CI: 1.03-1.44; P = 0.030). CONCLUSIONS: Elderly people with diabetes and chronic diseases who were using continuous medication were more likely to have dry mouth. Use of continuous medications for the gastrointestinal tract led to a greater chance of having self-reported xerostomia.