Individual and contextual factors influencing dental health care utilization by preschool children: a multilevel analysis

Abstract The effect of contextual factors on dental care utilization was evaluated after adjustment for individual characteristics of Brazilian preschool children. This cross-sectional study assessed 639 preschool children aged 1 to 5 years from Santa Maria, a town in Rio Grande do Sul State, located in southern Brazil. Participants were randomly selected from children attending the National Children’s Vaccination Day and 15 health centers were selected for this research. Visual examinations followed the ICDAS criteria. Parents answered a questionnaire about demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. Contextual influences on children’s dental care utilization were obtained from two community-related variables: presence of dentists and presence of workers’ associations in the neighborhood. Unadjusted and adjusted multilevel logistic regression models were used to describe the association between outcome and predictor variables. A prevalence of 21.6% was found for regular use of dental services. The unadjusted assessment of the associations of dental health care utilization with individual and contextual factors included children’s ages, family income, parents’ schooling, mothers’ participation in their children’s school activities, dental caries, and presence of workers’ associations in the neighborhood as the main outcome covariates. Individual variables remained associated with the outcome after adding contextual variables in the model. In conclusion, individual and contextual variables were associated with dental health care utilization by preschool children.

Trend of traumatic crown injuries and associated factors in preschool children

Abstract The aim of this study was to assess trends in traumatic crown injuries (TCIs), their prevalence, and association with socioeconomic and clinical factors in preschool children over a 5-year period. A series of cross-sectional surveys was conducted in Santa Maria, Brazil, on children attending a National Day of Children's Vaccination. The same protocol was used in all surveys conducted in 2008, 2010, and 2013. Clinical examinations were performed to evaluate types of traumatic crown injuries using the O'brien index. A semi-structured questionnaire was answered by the parents. It provided information about several socioeconomic factors as well as the parents' perception of their child's oral health. The chi-square for trends test was used to verify changes in TCI prevalence throughout the years. The association between socioeconomic and clinical factors with TCI was assessed by the Poisson regression analysis. A total of 1,640 children were examined. The prevalence of TCIs decreased significantly from 2008 to 2013 (10.12%; p < 0.001). Central incisors were the most vulnerable to injury, independent of the year. Moreover, older children and those with inadequate lip coverage were more likely to present with some traumatic dental injury (p < 0.001). prevalence of traumatic crown injuries decreased following the years, however TCI remain an important subject to consider when planning oral health policies.

Desigualdades na prevalencia de carie dentaria nao tratada em criancas pre-escolares no Brasil / Desigualdades en la prevalencia de caries dentaria no tratada en ninos pre-escolares en Brasil / Inequalities in untreated dental caries prevalence in preschool children in Brazil

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a influência de desigualdades sociais de ordem individual e contextual na experiência de cárie dentária não tratada em crianças no Brasil. MÉTODOS: Os dados sobre a prevalência de cárie dentária foram obtidos do Projeto Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde Bucal – SBBrasil 2010, levantamento epidemiológico de saúde bucal com amostra representativa para o país e cada uma de suas macrorregiões geográficas. Crianças de cinco anos de idade (n = 7.217) em 177 municípios foram examinadas e seus responsáveis responderam ao questionário. Características contextuais referentes aos municípios em 2010 (renda mediana, fluoretação da água e proporção de domicílios com abastecimento de água) foram informadas pela Fundação Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. O estudo de associação utilizou modelos multinível de análise de regressão de Poisson. RESULTADOS: A prevalência de cárie não tratada foi de 48,2%; mais da metade da amostra apresentou ao menos um dente decíduo com experiência de cárie. O índice de cárie na dentição decídua ceo-d médio foi 2,41, sendo maior para as regiões Norte e Nordeste. Crianças de cor da pele preta e parda, e aquelas com renda familiar menos elevada tiveram maior prevalência de cárie não tratada. No nível contextual, renda mediana no município e adição de flúor na água de abastecimento associaram-se inversamente com a prevalência do desfecho. CONCLUSÕES: Desigualdades na prevalência de cárie não tratada persistem, afetando as crianças com dentição decídua no Brasil. O planejamento de medidas públicas para a promoção de saúde bucal deve ...

OBJETIVO: Evaluar la influencia de desigualdades sociales de orden individual y contextual en la experiencia de caries dentaria no tratada en niños en Brasil. MÉTODOS: Los datos sobre la prevalencia de caries dentaria fueron obtenidos del Proyecto Investigación Nacional de Salud Bucal – SBBrasil 2010, pesquisa epidemiológica de salud bucal con muestra representativa para el país y cada una de sus macro regiones geográficas. Niños de cinco años de edad (n= 7.217) en 177 municipios fueron examinados y sus responsables respondieron el cuestionario. Características contextuales referentes a los municipios en 2010 (renta mediana, fluororación del agua y proporción de domicilios con abastecimiento de agua) fueron informadas por la Fundación Instituto Brasileño de Geografía y Estadística. El estudio de asociación utilizó modelos multinivel de análisis de regresión de Poisson. RESULTADOS: La prevalencia de caries no tratada fue de 48,2%; más de la mitad de la muestra presentó al menos un diente deciduo con experiencia de caries. El índice de caries en la dentición decidua ceo-d promedio fue 2,41, siendo mayor para las regiones Norte y Noreste. Niños con color de piel negra y parda, y aquellas con renta familiar menos elevada tuvieron mayor prevalencia de caries no tratada. En el nivel contextual, renta mediana en el municipio y adición de flúor en el agua de abastecimiento se asociaron inversamente con la prevalencia del resultado. CONCLUSIONES: Desigualdades en la prevalencia de caries no tratada persisten, afectando a los niños con dentición decidua en Brasil. La planificación de medidas públicas para la promoción de salud bucal debe considerar el efecto de factores contextuales como determinante de riesgos individuales. .

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of social inequalities of individual and contextual nature on untreated dental caries in Brazilian children. METHODS: The data on the prevalence of dental caries were obtained from the Brazilian Oral Health Survey (SBBrasil 2010) Project, an epidemiological survey of oral health with a representative sample for the country and each of the geographical micro-regions. Children aged five (n = 7,217) in 177 municipalities were examined and their parents/guardians completed a questionnaire. Contextual characteristics referring to the municipalities in 2010 (mean income, fluorodized water and proportion of residences with water supply) were supplied by the Fundação Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics). Multilevel Poisson regression analysis models were used to assess associations. RESULTS: The prevalence of non-treated dental caries was 48.2%; more than half of the sample had at least one deciduous tooth affected by dental caries. The index of dental caries in deciduous teeth was 2.41, with higher figures in the North and Northeast. Black and brown children and those from lower income families had a higher prevalence of untreated dental caries. With regards context, the mean income in the municipality and the addition of fluoride to the water supply were inversely associated with the prevalence of the outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Inequalities in the prevalence of untreated dental caries remain, affecting deciduous teeth of children in Brazil. Planning public policies to promote oral health should consider the effect of contextual factors as a determinant of individual risk. .

Impacto dos problemas bucais na qualidade de vida em pré-escolares / Impact of Oral Problems on the Quality of Life of Preschool Children

Objetivo: Avaliar o impacto das condições clínicas bucais e fatores socioeconômicos na qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde bucal (QVRSB) de pré-escolares. Metodologia: A amostra consistiu de todas as crianças de seis a 72 meses de idade e pais residentes em Venda Branca, Casa Branca/SP. Foram aplicados dois questionários sobre QVREB (ECOHIS) e condições socioeconômicas. Um examinador calibrado avaliou a presença da doença cárie, maloclusões e lesões traumáticas. Utilizou-se análise de regressão de Poisson. Resultados: As prevalências observadas para o trauma dentário, mordida aberta anterior, selamento labial inadequado e doença cárie foram respectivamente 1,63%; 27,97%; 4,92% e 54,10%. A análise univariada mostrou associação entre a criança ter casa própria e melhor qualidade de vida. A mordida aberta anterior e a doença cárie foram associadas à pior qualidade de vida. A análise múltipla confirmou a análise univariada, na qual as variáveis casa própria, mordida aberta anterior e doença cárie foram associadas à melhoria da qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde bucal nas crianças. Conclusão: Fatores socioeconômicos e clínicos causam impacto negativo na qualidade de vida dos pré-escolares.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of oral clinical conditions and socioeconomic factors on the quality of life related to oral health (QLROH) of preschool children.Method: The sample included all children aged 6 to 72 months and their parents living in Venda Branca, in the city of Casa Branca, SP, Brazil. Two questionnaires on QLROH (ECOHIS) and socioeconomicconditions were applied. A calibrated examiner evaluated the presence of caries disease, malocclusions and traumatic injuries. Poisson?s regression analysis was used.Results: Prevalence of dental trauma, open anterior bite, inadequate lip seal and caries disease was respectively 1.63%, 27.97%, 4.92% and 54.10%. Univariate analysis showed association between living in an own house and having better quality of life. Open anterior bite and caries disease were associated with worse quality of life. Multiple analyses corroborated the univariate analysis, as the variables ownhouse, open anterior bite and caries disease were associated withimproved QLROH in the children.Conclusion: Socioeconomic and clinical factors were shown to have a negative impact on the preschool children?s quality of life.

Socioeconomic and clinical factors associated with traumatic dental injuries in Brazilian preschool children

The aim of this paper was to assess the epidemiology of traumatic dental injury (TDI) in preschool children and its relation to socioeconomic and clinical factors. This study was carried out in Santa Maria, Brazil, during National Children's Vaccination Day, and 441 children aged 12 to 59 months were included. Data about socioeconomic status were collected through a semi-structured questionnaire administered to parents. Calibrated examiners evaluated the prevalence of TDI, overjet, and lip coverage. Data were analyzed with a Poisson regression model (PR; 95% confidence intervals). The TDI prevalence was 31.7%. The maxillary central incisors were the most frequently traumatized teeth. The most common TDI was enamel fracture. No association was found between TDI prevalence and the socioeconomic status of children. After adjustments were performed, the eldest children with an overjet > 3 mm were more likely to have TDI than their counterparts. The data indicated a high prevalence of TDI. Only overjet was a strong predictor for TDI, whereas socioeconomic factors were not associated with TDI in this age group.

Influence of self-perceived oral health and socioeconomic predictors on the utilization of dental care services by schoolchildren

The influence of socioeconomic factors and self-rated oral health on children's dental health assistance was assessed. This study followed a cross-sectional design, with a multistage random sample of 792 12-year-old schoolchildren from Santa Maria, a city in southern Brazil. A dental examination provided information on the prevalence of dental caries (DMFT index). Data about the use of dental service, socioeconomic status, and self-perceived oral health were collected by means of structured interviews. These associations were assessed using Poisson regression models (prevalence ratio; 95 percent confidence interval). The prevalence of regular use of dental service was 47.8 percent. Children from low socioeconomic backgrounds and those who rated their oral health as "poor" used the service less frequently. The distribution of the kind of oral healthcare assistance used (public/private) varied across socioeconomic groups. The better-off children were less likely to have used the public service. Clinical, socioeconomic, and psychosocial factors were strong predictors for the utilization of dental care services by schoolchildren.

Inequalities in the distribution of dental caries among 12-year-old Brazilian schoolchildren

We assessed the inequality in the distribution of dental caries and the association between indicators of socioeconomic status and caries experience in a representative sample of schoolchildren. This study followed a cross-sectional design, with a sample of 792 schoolchildren aged 12 years, representative of this age group in Santa Maria, RS, Brazil. Guardians answered questions on socioeconomic status and a dental examination provided information on the dental caries experience (DMF-T). Inequality in dental caries distribution was measured by the Gini coefficient and the Significant Caries Index (SiC). The assessment of association used Poisson regression models. Socioeconomic factors were associated with prevalence of dental caries for the whole sample and also for individuals with a high-caries level. Children from low-income households had the highest prevalence of dental caries. The Gini coefficient was 0.7 and the SiC Index 2.5. The percentage of caries prevalence was 39.3 percent (95 percent CI: 35.8 percent-42.8 percent) and the mean for DMF-T was 0.9 (± SD 1.5). Inequalities in the distribution of dental caries were observed and socioeconomic factors were found to be strong predictors of the prevalence of oral disease in children of this age group.