Premature Primary Tooth Loss and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in Preschool Children.

The present study aimed to evaluate the association between premature primary tooth loss and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in preschool children. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 769 5-year-old preschool children. The children and their parents or guardians answered the Brazilian version of the Scale of Oral Health Outcomes for 5-Year-Old Children for the assessment of OHRQoL. Meanwhile, clinical examinations were performed for the assessment of premature primary tooth loss. Unadjusted and adjusted multilevel Poisson regression models were utilized to investigate the associations between the variables. In the parental version of the scale, premature posterior primary tooth loss (rate ratio [RR] = 2.65; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.51-4.68), weak sense of coherence (RR = 2.25; 95% CI = 1.62-3.11), and visit to a dentist (RR = 1.61; 95% CI = 1.04-2.52) were associated with OHRQoL. Based on the children's perceptions, only the preschool type was associated with OHRQoL (RR = 1.92; 95% CI = 1.21-3.05). Premature posterior primary tooth loss had a greater impact on OHRQoL based on the parents' perception, whereas only the preschool type was associated with OHRQoL based on the children's perception.

Family and contextual factors associated with licit drug use in adolescence.

OBJECTIVE: TO evaluate the family and contextual factors associated with licit drug use among 15 to 19-year-old adolescents in the school context. METHODS: This is a representative, school-based, cross-sectional study conducted with 746 adolescents from 15 to 19 years old enrolled in public and private schools. Parents/guardians reported on the sociodemographic variables, while adolescents answered questionnaires on drug use, family cohesion and adaptability, oral health literacy and visits to the dentist. Information on school context was obtained at the institution and via municipal publications. Associations between variables were analyzed using unadjusted and adjusted multilevel Poisson regression models. RESULTS: Prevalence of licit drug use at least once and a pattern indicative of harmful drug use were 39.8% and 15.1%, respectively. After the adjusted analysis of licit drug use at least once, the variables gender (PR = 1.26; 95%CI: 1.01-1.59), family cohesion (PR = 9.81; 95%CI: 1.23-72.54), and average income of the school district (PR = 0.72; 95%CI: 0.57-0.91) remained in the final model. As for drug abuse, only the detached type (PR = 23.01; 95%CI: 2.46-214.87) and separated type (PR = 13.54; 95%CI: 1.40-130.97) of family cohesion remained in the final model. CONCLUSION: Experience with licit drug use was associated with family and contextual factors among the adolescents, while family cohesion was the main factor related to harmful drug use.

Family structure, sociodemographic factors and type of dental service associated with oral health literacy in the early adolescence.

The aim of this study was to evaluate associations between oral health literacy and family, sociodemographic and dental service characteristics in early adolescents. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 740 schoolchildren. The following variables were investigated using validated questionnaires: oral health literary (BREALD-30), sociodemographic characteristics, type of dental service and family functioning (FACES III). Associations were tested using robust Poisson regression analysis (α=5%). Higher oral health literacy was associated with the female sex (RR=1.09; 95%CI: 1.03-1.14), connected type of family cohesion (RR=1.12; 95%CI: 1.05-1.20), rigid (RR=1.14; 95%CI: 1.04-1.25) and structured (RR=1.11; 95%CI: 1.04-1.20) types of family adaptability, more than eight years of mother's schooling (RR=1.16; 95%CI: 1.10-1.22), age of caregiver more than 38 years (RR=1.07; 95%CI: 1.02-1.13) and the use of private dental services (RR=1.06; 95%CI: 1.01-1.12). The level of oral health literacy in early adolescents was associated with sex, family structure, mother's schooling, caregiver's age and type of dental service used.

Family structure, sociodemographic factors and type of dental service associated with oral health literacy in the early adolescence / Estrutura familiar, fatores sociodemográficos e tipo de serviço odontológico associados ao alfabetismo em saúde bucal no início da adolescência

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate associations between oral health literacy and family, sociodemographic and dental service characteristics in early adolescents. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 740 schoolchildren. The following variables were investigated using validated questionnaires: oral health literary (BREALD-30), sociodemographic characteristics, type of dental service and family functioning (FACES III). Associations were tested using robust Poisson regression analysis (α=5%). Higher oral health literacy was associated with the female sex (RR=1.09; 95%CI: 1.03-1.14), connected type of family cohesion (RR=1.12; 95%CI: 1.05-1.20), rigid (RR=1.14; 95%CI: 1.04-1.25) and structured (RR=1.11; 95%CI: 1.04-1.20) types of family adaptability, more than eight years of mother's schooling (RR=1.16; 95%CI: 1.10-1.22), age of caregiver more than 38 years (RR=1.07; 95%CI: 1.02-1.13) and the use of private dental services (RR=1.06; 95%CI: 1.01-1.12). The level of oral health literacy in early adolescents was associated with sex, family structure, mother's schooling, caregiver's age and type of dental service used.

Resumo Este estudo avaliou a associação de fatores sociodemográficos, familiares e do tipo de serviço odontológico utilizado ao alfabetismo em saúde bucal em pré-adolescentes. Trata-se de um estudo transversal com 740 escolares. Foram avaliados o alfabetismo em saúde bucal (BREALD-30), fatores sociodemográficos, tipo de serviço odontológico e funcionalidade familiar (FACES III) por meio de questionários validados. A associação entre as variáveis foi avaliada por meio de regressão de Poisson robusta (α=5%). Um maior alfabetismo em saúde bucal foi associado ao sexo feminino (RR=1.09; IC95%: 1.03-1.14), coesão familiar do tipo conectada (RR=1.12; IC95%: 1.05-1.20), adaptabilidade familiar dos tipos rígida (RR=1.14; IC95%: 1.04-1.25) e estruturada (RR=1.11; IC95%: 1.04-1.20), escolaridade materna superior a oito anos de estudo (RR=1.16; IC95%: 1.10-1.22), idade do responsável superior a 38 anos (RR=1.07; IC95%: 1.02-1.13) e uso de serviços odontológicos privados (RR=1.06; IC95%: 1.01-1.12). O nível de alfabetismo em pré-adolescentes foi associado ao sexo, estrutura familiar, idade e escolaridade do responsável e tipo de serviço odontológico utilizado.

The Impact of Dental Pain due to Caries in the Oral Health-Related Quality of Life of Children.

Purpose: To determine the extent to which history of dental pain explains the impact of dental caries on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among pre-schoolers.
Methods: A population-based study was conducted with a random sample of 769 five-year-old children. Preschoolers self-completed the Brazilian version of the Scale of Oral Health Outcomes for Five-Year-Old Children (SOHO-5), and caregivers completed a questionnaire addressing sociodemographic characteristics. Children had a dental/oral examination done by dentists. The effect of cavitated caries lesions on OHRQoL explained by pain was estimated by the percentage variation of the prevalence ratio (PR) for the impact of cavitated lesions on OHRQoL (PRc), and this measure was adjusted by dental pain (PRct). PR was determined through multiple Poisson regression (P <0.05).
Results: The prevalence of cavitated lesions was 58.8 percent; among this cohort, 23.8 percent reported dental pain. The PRc was 1.063 and PRct was 1.039. Thirty-eight percent of the impact of dental caries on OHRQoL was due to dental pain.
Conclusion: History of dental pain explains 38 percent of the impact of dental caries on the OHRQoL of preschoolers.

Oral health literacy, sociodemographic, family, and clinical predictors of dental visits among Brazilian early adolescents.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of dental caries is high in adolescents worldwide, and a large percentage have never been to a dentist or have not had regular dental appointments. AIM: To evaluate the influence of oral health literacy and sociodemographic, clinical, and family factors on dental visits among early adolescents. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 740 12-year-old students in Campina Grande, Brazil. Students answered about their level of oral health literacy (BREALD-30), levels of family adaptability and cohesion (FACES III), and visits to the dentist sometime in life. Dental caries experience was evaluated using Nyvad criteria. Robust Poisson regression for complex samples was performed. RESULTS: A higher level of oral health literacy (PR = 1.01; 95% CI: 1.01-1.03), high social class (PR = 1.28; 95% CI: 1.09-1.50), higher mother's schooling (PR = 1.58; 95% CI: 1.37-1.83), family cohesion classified as enmeshed (PR = 1.55; 95% CI: 1.19-2.02) and connected (PR = 1.22; 95% CI: 1.02-1.44), and the absence of toothache (PR = 1.18; 95% CI: 1.01-1.38) remained associated with having visited a dentist. CONCLUSIONS: Oral health literacy and sociodemographic, family, and clinical factors were predictors of having visited a dentist among early adolescents.

Family and contextual factors associated with licit drug use in adolescence

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: TO evaluate the family and contextual factors associated with licit drug use among 15 to 19-year-old adolescents in the school context. METHODS: This is a representative, school-based, cross-sectional study conducted with 746 adolescents from 15 to 19 years old enrolled in public and private schools. Parents/guardians reported on the sociodemographic variables, while adolescents answered questionnaires on drug use, family cohesion and adaptability, oral health literacy and visits to the dentist. Information on school context was obtained at the institution and via municipal publications. Associations between variables were analyzed using unadjusted and adjusted multilevel Poisson regression models. RESULTS: Prevalence of licit drug use at least once and a pattern indicative of harmful drug use were 39.8% and 15.1%, respectively. After the adjusted analysis of licit drug use at least once, the variables gender (PR = 1.26; 95%CI: 1.01-1.59), family cohesion (PR = 9.81; 95%CI: 1.23-72.54), and average income of the school district (PR = 0.72; 95%CI: 0.57-0.91) remained in the final model. As for drug abuse, only the detached type (PR = 23.01; 95%CI: 2.46-214.87) and separated type (PR = 13.54; 95%CI: 1.40-130.97) of family cohesion remained in the final model. CONCLUSION: Experience with licit drug use was associated with family and contextual factors among the adolescents, while family cohesion was the main factor related to harmful drug use.

Degree of family cohesion and social class are associated with the number of cavitated dental caries in adolescents.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between number of cavitated dental caries in adolescents and family cohesion, drug use, sociodemographic factors and visits to the dentist. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 746 adolescents aged 15 to 19 years from Campina Grande, Brazil. The parents answered a questionnaire addressing sociodemographic data, and the adolescents answered questionnaires on drug use, type of family cohesion and visits to the dentist. Two examiners underwent training and calibration exercises (K > 0.80) to diagnose dental caries using the Nyvad criteria. A directed acyclic graph was created to select the variables to be controlled in the statistical model. Associations between the independent variables and the outcome were determined using robust Poisson Regression analysis for complex samples (α = 5%). Rate ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. The prevalence of dental caries and cavitated lesions among the adolescents was 92.8% and 41.6%, respectively. The following variables remained associated with the number of cavitated lesions in the multivariate analysis: disengaged (RR: 6.30; 95%CI: 1.24-31.88; p = 0.028 ), separated (RR: 4.80; 95%CI: 1.03-22.35; p = 0.046) and connected (RR: 5.23; 95%CI: 1.27-21.59; p = 0.024) levels of family cohesion, and high social class (RR: 0.55; 95%CI: 0.39-0.76; p = 0.001). In conclusion, this paper posits that adolescents with a lower socioeconomic status, and those whose family cohesion was classified as disengaged, separated or connected, had a larger number of cavitated lesions.

Socioeconomic status and family functioning influence oral health literacy among adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate socio-demographic, family and behavioral factors associated with oral health literacy (OHL) in adolescents. METHODS: Cross-sectional study conducted with adolescents aged 15 to 19 years in Campina Grande, Brazil. Parents/guardians answered a questionnaire addressing socio-demographic data. The adolescents answered validated instruments on family cohesion and adaptability (family adaptability and cohesion evaluation scale), drug use (alcohol, smoking and substance involvement screening test), type of dental service used for last appointment and OHL (Brazilian version of the Rapid Estimate of Oral Health Literacy in Dentistry). Two dentists were trained to evaluate OHL (K = 0.87-0.88). Descriptive analysis was performed, followed by Poisson regression analysis (α = 5%). A directed acyclic graph was used to select independent variables in the study. RESULTS: The following variables remained associated with better OHL: high mother's schooling level (RR = 1.07; 95%CI: 1.03-1.12), high income (RR = 1.04; 95%CI: 1.01-1.09), white ethnicity/skin color (RR = 1.05; 95%CI: 1.01-1.10), married parents (RR = 1.04; 95%CI: 1.01-1.09), "enmeshed" family cohesion (RR = 1.21; 95%CI: 1.12-1.30), "structured" (RR = 1.06; 95%CI: 1.01-1.12) or "rigid" (RR = 1.11; 95%CI: 1.04-1.19) family adaptability, having more than five residents in the home (RR = 1.07; 95%CI: 1.01-1.14) and having used a private dental service during the last appointment (RR = 1.08; 95%CI: 1.03-1.13). CONCLUSION: Family functioning and socio-demographic factors influence the level of oral health literacy among adolescents.

The impact of oral health literacy and family cohesion on dental caries in early adolescence.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between the prevalence of cavitated dental caries and oral health literacy (OHL), family characteristics and sociodemographic factors in early adolescence. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 740 twelve-year-old students. The students' guardians provided information on sociodemographic data, and the students provided information on family characteristics and OHL. Two trained dentists examined the participants for dental caries and administered the Brazilian version of the Rapid Estimate of Oral Health Literacy in Dentistry (BREALD-30). Control variables were selected using a directed acyclic graph. Descriptive analysis was performed; this was followed by robust Poisson regression analysis for complex samples to evaluate the association between dental caries and socioeconomic and family predictors (α = 5%). RESULTS: The following variables were associated with a greater number of cavitated caries lesions: low level of education completed by the mother (RR = 1.58; 95% CI: 1.12-2.24), less privileged social class (RR = 1.89; 95% CI: 1.28-2.80), non-White ethnicity (RR = 1.64; 95% CI: 1.0-2.48), larger number of residents in the home (RR = 1.87; 95% CI: 1.25-2.81), low level of OHL (RR = 2.02; 95% CI: 1.28-3.18), and the 'connected' (RR = 4.72; 95% CI: 1.17-18.90), 'separated' (RR = 4.09; 95% CI: 1.05-15.86) and 'disengaged' (RR = 4.20; 95% CI: 1.09-16.18) types of family cohesion. CONCLUSIONS: A low level of oral health literacy, sociodemographic factors, and a low level of family cohesion are predictors of cavitated caries lesions in early adolescence.

Degree of family cohesion and social class are associated with the number of cavitated dental caries in adolescents

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between number of cavitated dental caries in adolescents and family cohesion, drug use, sociodemographic factors and visits to the dentist. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 746 adolescents aged 15 to 19 years from Campina Grande, Brazil. The parents answered a questionnaire addressing sociodemographic data, and the adolescents answered questionnaires on drug use, type of family cohesion and visits to the dentist. Two examiners underwent training and calibration exercises (K > 0.80) to diagnose dental caries using the Nyvad criteria. A directed acyclic graph was created to select the variables to be controlled in the statistical model. Associations between the independent variables and the outcome were determined using robust Poisson Regression analysis for complex samples (α = 5%). Rate ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. The prevalence of dental caries and cavitated lesions among the adolescents was 92.8% and 41.6%, respectively. The following variables remained associated with the number of cavitated lesions in the multivariate analysis: disengaged (RR: 6.30; 95%CI: 1.24-31.88; p = 0.028 ), separated (RR: 4.80; 95%CI: 1.03-22.35; p = 0.046) and connected (RR: 5.23; 95%CI: 1.27-21.59; p = 0.024) levels of family cohesion, and high social class (RR: 0.55; 95%CI: 0.39-0.76; p = 0.001). In conclusion, this paper posits that adolescents with a lower socioeconomic status, and those whose family cohesion was classified as disengaged, separated or connected, had a larger number of cavitated lesions.

Socioeconomic status and family functioning influence oral health literacy among adolescents

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE Evaluate socio-demographic, family and behavioral factors associated with oral health literacy (OHL) in adolescents. METHODS Cross-sectional study conducted with adolescents aged 15 to 19 years in Campina Grande, Brazil. Parents/guardians answered a questionnaire addressing socio-demographic data. The adolescents answered validated instruments on family cohesion and adaptability (family adaptability and cohesion evaluation scale), drug use (alcohol, smoking and substance involvement screening test), type of dental service used for last appointment and OHL (Brazilian version of the Rapid Estimate of Oral Health Literacy in Dentistry). Two dentists were trained to evaluate OHL (K = 0.87-0.88). Descriptive analysis was performed, followed by Poisson regression analysis (α = 5%). A directed acyclic graph was used to select independent variables in the study. RESULTS The following variables remained associated with better OHL: high mother's schooling level (RR = 1.07; 95%CI: 1.03-1.12), high income (RR = 1.04; 95%CI: 1.01-1.09), white ethnicity/skin color (RR = 1.05; 95%CI: 1.01-1.10), married parents (RR = 1.04; 95%CI: 1.01-1.09), "enmeshed" family cohesion (RR = 1.21; 95%CI: 1.12-1.30), "structured" (RR = 1.06; 95%CI: 1.01-1.12) or "rigid" (RR = 1.11; 95%CI: 1.04-1.19) family adaptability, having more than five residents in the home (RR = 1.07; 95%CI: 1.01-1.14) and having used a private dental service during the last appointment (RR = 1.08; 95%CI: 1.03-1.13). CONCLUSION Family functioning and socio-demographic factors influence the level of oral health literacy among adolescents.

Adolescents with worse levels of oral health literacy have more cavitated carious lesions.

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the ability to recognize and read oral health terms is associated with the number of teeth with cavitated carious lesions in adolescents. A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted involving a sample of 746 adolescents representative of students aged 15 to 19 years at the public and private school systems in a city in northeast Brazil. Two examiners who had undergone a training and calibration exercise (inter-examiner and intra-examiner Kappa coefficient: 0.87 to 0.93) performed the diagnosis of caries using the Nyvad Index and evaluated the level of OHL (BREALD-30) of the adolescents. The participants answered questions regarding their history of visits to the dentist and the parents/caregivers answered a questionnaire addressing socioeconomic characteristics. A directed acyclic graph was created to direct the selection of covariables for adjustments in the Poisson multiple regression analysis to test the association between dental caries and OHL (α = 5%). Cavitated carious lesions (codes 3 to 6 on the Nyvad index) were found in 41.6% of the adolescents. Only 29.4% had a high level of OHL (BREALD-30 scores between 23 and 30); 42.3% of the families belonged to the A-B social class and 93% of the adolescents had been to the dentist at least once in their lifetimes. In the multivariate analysis, adolescents with inadequate (PR: 1.69; 95% CI: 1.18-2.41; p = 0.004) and marginal (PR; 1.42; 95% CI: 1.01-1.99; p = 0.042) OHL and those in the lower social classes (C-D-E) (PR: 1.85; 95% CI: 1.39-2.47; p<0.001) had more teeth with cavitated carious lesions. In conclusion, adolescents aged 15 to 19 years with poorer levels of OHL had a larger number of teeth with cavitated carious lesions, independently of their socioeconomic status and history of visiting a dentist.

Bullying among adolescents and school measures to tackle it / Bullying entre adolescentes e medidas escolares para combatê-lo

Abstract Background Adolescents are particularly susceptible to the effects of negative social interactions. Thus, knowledge on the behavioral characteristics of adolescents who are targets of bullying can assist with establishing actions directed to protection of the victims. Objective Describe the types of bullying practice and how adolescents perceive this violence, as well as the methods adopted by school to tackle it. Method A cross-sectional study was conducted with 612 public school students aged 10-19 years. Data were collected through the application of a questionnaire developed by the UK-based Kidscape organization. Items were added to this questionnaire aiming to characterize the respondents and their perception regarding the conduct of school administrators in tackling the problem. Statistical analysis involved frequency description and measures of bivariate and multivariate association (α=5%). Results The prevalence of bullying was 21.7%. No significant associations were found between bullying and socio-demographic factors (p>0.05). In most cases, the onset of aggressions was at 6-11 years of age of the victim. Verbal aggression was the most frequently observed type of bullying (82.2%), and the classroom was the location where most aggressions occurred (60.2%). Installation of surveillance cameras was the main action taken by school administrators to tackle the problem. Conclusion Prevalence of bullying in the population studied may be considered high, and verbal aggression was the most frequent type of bullying. Actions of school administrators were concentrated on structural reforms.

Resumo Introdução Os adolescentes são particularmente suscetíveis aos efeitos das interações sociais negativas. Assim, o conhecimento das características comportamentais dos adolescentes alvos de bullying pode auxiliar no estabelecimento de ações voltadas à proteção das vítimas. Objetivo Descrever as formas de bullying e o modo como os adolescentes percebem essa violência, e os métodos adotados pela escola para combatê-la. Método Foi realizado um estudo transversal com 612 alunos de 10 a 19 anos de idade matriculados em escolas públicas. A coleta de dados foi realizada por meio de questionário desenvolvido pela instituição inglesa Kidscape, à qual foram adicionados itens para a caracterização dos respondentes e suas percepções sobre a conduta dos administradores escolares diante do problema. A análise estatística envolveu uma distribuição de frequência e medidas de associação bivariada e multivariada (α=5%). Resultados A prevalência de bullying foi de 21,7%. Não foram encontradas associações significativas entre bullying e fatores sociodemográficos (p>0,05). Na maioria dos casos, o início das agressões começou entre seis e 11 anos de idade da vítima. A forma verbal foi a mais frequente (82,2%) e a sala de aula foi a localidade onde ocorreu a maior parte das agressões (60,2%). A instalação de câmeras de segurança foi a principal ação tomada pelos administradores escolares para combater o problema. Conclusão A prevalência de bullying na população estudada pode ser considerada alta e o abuso verbal é a forma mais frequente. As ações dos administradores escolares concentraram-se em reformas estruturais.

Knowledge of parents/caregivers about the sleep bruxism of their children from all five Brazilian regions: A multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Sleep bruxism (SB) is a masticatory muscle activity that affects children. Parents' knowledge is important for its identification and report to dentists. AIM: To investigate parents' knowledge about SB among their children. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study included 1325 parents of children from dental clinics of seven institutions from all regions of Brazil. Parents answered questions about child's sleep, knowledge about SB and its occurrence among children and parents. SB definition given by parents was dichotomized as "correct"/"incorrect", based on the American Academy of Sleep Medicine definition. Descriptive, bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed (P < 0.05). RESULTS: Most parents (57.3%) did not know what SB is and 88.9% would like to receive more information. SB prevalence among parents was 15.4% and 24.0% among children. Between parents who correctly defined SB, its prevalence increased to 27.5% among parents and 40.6% among children. Parents whose children had/have SB, who would like to receive more information about SB and were from the North, Central-West, Southeast, and South regions were more likely to define SB correctly (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: There is a lack of knowledge of parents about SB. SB among children, parents' interest in receiving more information and their location were factors associated to their knowledge.

How much does household food insecurity explain income inequalities in untreated dental caries?

BACKGROUND: The pathway by which socioeconomic disadvantages are manifested in the occurrence of dental caries remains unclear. AIM: To explore how much the association between untreated dental caries and income inequalities is related to household food insecurity (HFI). DESIGN: A population-based study was conducted with a sample of 466 12-year-old students. Dental caries was evaluated by an examiner who had undergone calibration exercises. HFI was assessed using the Food Insecurity Scale validated for Brazilian Portuguese. Poisson regression models were created to determine associations between dental caries and both household income and HFI. The proportion of the income effect on dental caries explained by HFI was determined by the variation in percentages between the crude prevalence ratio (PRc ) for dental caries and this measure adjusted by HFI (PRa ). RESULTS: The prevalence of dental caries was higher among children from families with a per capita household income lower than US$ 71 (PR: 1.69; 95%CI: 1.15-2.49) or from US$ 71 to US$ 142 (PR: 1.50; 95%CI: 1.04-2.17). Moreover, 14% of the association between a low income and dental caries was explained by HFI. CONCLUSIONS: Differences in the prevalence of dental caries in schoolchildren related to socioeconomic inequalities could partially be attributed to HFI in low-income families.

Association between sense of coherence and untreated dental caries in preschoolers: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to evaluate factors associated with the clinical consequences of untreated dental caries in children attending public and private preschools. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a complex, preschool-based sample of 769 children, 5 years of age, from public and private preschools in the city of Campina Grande, Brazil. Clinical examinations to diagnose the consequences of untreated caries were performed using the criteria of the pufa index (p - pulp exposure; u - ulceration caused by movement of tooth fragments; f - fistula; a - abscess). The psychological factor evaluated was parental/caregiver sense of coherence (SOC), which was determined using a validated assessment tool. Sociodemographic characteristics and the use of dental services were also considered. Two examiners were trained to examine the clinical consequences of untreated dental caries. The kappa statistic demonstrated a high level of agreement for the conditions evaluated. Descriptive analysis was performed, followed by the use of an inductive decision tree (J48 algorithm; α = 5%). RESULTS: The factors associated with the clinical consequences of untreated dental caries were toothache [prevalence ratio (PR) = 12.34; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 7.87-19.35; P < 0.001], attending a public preschool (PR = 2.38; 95% CI: 1.83-3.09; P < 0.001), parents/caregivers younger than 30 years of age (PR = 1.45; 95% CI: 1.26-1.68; P < 0.001), parents/caregivers with more than two children (PR = 1.47; 95% CI: 1.28-1.69; P < 0.001) and parents/caregivers with a weak SOC (PR = 1.13; 95% CI: 1.01-1.28; P = 0.043). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of clinical consequences of untreated dental caries was low in the present sample and was associated with sociodemographic factors (type of preschool, caregiver's age and number of children in the family) as well as psychological factors (SOC).

Toothache and Non-Clinical Individual and School Factors in Five-Year-Old Children: Multilevel Analysis.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the influence of individual and contextual factors on the occurrence of toothache in five-year-old children. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 756 five-year-old children from public and private preschools in a city in the countryside of the northeast of Brazil. The sample was determined through probabilistic sampling in two stages (preschools and children). The children included could not have systematic diseases, permanent tooth or orthodontic treatment. Parents/caregivers were required to spend at least 12 hours per day with their children. The history of toothache during the life of the child was reported by parents/guardians. Socioeconomic and psychological questionnaires were completed by parents/guardians. Variables related to social context were obtained from the preschools in which the children studied and the official publications of the municipal region. Unadjusted and adjusted multilevel Poisson regression models were used to investigate the association between individual and contextual characteristics and history of toothache. The history of toothache was found for 23.8% of the children. Among the individual determinants, gender of the child, order of birth, and schooling of parent/guardian were associated with toothache in children. The individual variables remained associated with the outcome after the addition of the contextual variables to the model. The type of preschool was the contextual determinant associated with toothache in the final model. Both individual (gender, order of birth and schooling of parents/guardians) and contextual (type of preschool) determinants were associated with history of toothache in five-year-old children.

Toothache and non-clinical individual and school factors in five-year-old children: multilevel analysis

Abstract The objective of the present study was to evaluate the influence of individual and contextual factors on the occurrence of toothache in five-year-old children. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 756 five-year-old children from public and private preschools in a city in the countryside of the northeast of Brazil. The sample was determined through probabilistic sampling in two stages (preschools and children). The children included could not have systematic diseases, permanent tooth or orthodontic treatment. Parents/caregivers were required to spend at least 12 hours per day with their children. The history of toothache during the life of the child was reported by parents/guardians. Socioeconomic and psychological questionnaires were completed by parents/guardians. Variables related to social context were obtained from the preschools in which the children studied and the official publications of the municipal region. Unadjusted and adjusted multilevel Poisson regression models were used to investigate the association between individual and contextual characteristics and history of toothache. The history of toothache was found for 23.8% of the children. Among the individual determinants, gender of the child, order of birth, and schooling of parent/guardian were associated with toothache in children. The individual variables remained associated with the outcome after the addition of the contextual variables to the model. The type of preschool was the contextual determinant associated with toothache in the final model. Both individual (gender, order of birth and schooling of parents/guardians) and contextual (type of preschool) determinants were associated with history of toothache in five-year-old children.

Resumo O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a influência de fatores individuais e contextuais na ocorrência de dor de dente em crianças de cinco anos de idade. Um estudo transversal foi realizado com 756 crianças de cinco anos de idade de pré-escolas públicas e privadas em uma cidade no interior do Nordeste do Brasil. A seleção da amostra foi realizada por meio de amostragem probabilística em duas etapas (pré-escolas e crianças). As crianças incluídas não poderiam ter doenças sistêmicas, dentes permanentes ou tratamento ortodôntico. Foram incluídos apenas pais/responsáveis que passavam pelo menos 12 horas por dia com seus filhos. O histórico de dor de dente durante a vida da criança foi relatado pelos pais/responsáveis. Os questionários socioeconômicos e psicológicos foram preenchidos pelos pais/responsáveis. As variáveis relacionadas ao contexto social foram obtidas na pré-escola em que as crianças estudaram e nas publicações oficiais da região municipal. Os modelos de regressão de Poisson multinível não ajustados e ajustados foram utilizados para investigar a associação entre características individuais e contextuais e histórico de dor de dente. O histórico de dor de dente foi encontrado em 23,8% das crianças. Entre os determinantes individuais, gênero da criança, ordem de nascimento e escolaridade dos pais/responsáveis ​​foram associados com dor de dente em crianças. As variáveis ​​individuais permaneceram associadas ao resultado após a adição das variáveis ​​contextuais ao modelo. O tipo de pré-escola foi o determinante contextual associado ao histórico de dor de dente no modelo final. Tanto o indivíduo (gênero, ordem de nascimento e escolaridade dos pais/responsáveis) quanto os determinantes contextuais (tipo de pré-escolar) foram associados com o histórico de dor de dente em crianças de cinco anos de idade.

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.