Dental caries in inland Brazilian adolescents and its relationship with social determinants

Abstract

Aim: To identify the prevalence of dental caries in inland Brazilian adolescents, and to analyze the influence of socio-demographic and clinical variables, and access to dental service on caries experience. Methods: This study had a non-probabilistic sample comprising 504 adolescents aged 12 years, attending public schools in the city of Nova Friburgo, mountain region of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The World Health Organization (WHO, 1997) criterion was used by previously calibrated examiners to report dental caries. Variables were obtained by means of a semistructured questionnaire applied to the adolescents' parents. Results: The D 3 MFT mean was 1.90 and the Significant Caries (SIC) Index was 4.54, mainly represented by the carious component. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that parents with over 8 years of schooling (OR=0.579), absence of pain (OR=0.396) and not visiting the dentist (OR=0.270) might suggest protective factors against the disease; the possible risk factors were male gender (OR=1.982) and pain, extraction and others were reasons for consultation (OR=2.435). Conclusions: Although the prevalence of caries was slightly below the national mean, polarization of the disease was clearly observed. Education and no access to the dentist led to protection against the disease. These results may contribute to planning of oral health actions directed towards this target population for the control of caries.

Analysis of clinical, demographic, socioeconomic, and psychosocial determinants of quality of life of persons with intellectual disability: a cross‐sectional Study

“…This study showed results in contrast with those of Anders and Davis with respect to the prevalence of caries, because when the results of this study are compared with those of the national epidemiological survey, the DMF‐T measurements of individuals with ID were observed to be higher for the age groups of 12 (CPO‐D = 5.05) and 15 to 19 years of age (DMF‐T 7.89), compared with those of 2.07 and 4.25, respectively, referring to the population in general. Moreover, in this study, the mean DMF‐T (5.05) at 12 years of age was found to be higher than the value found in the epidemiological survey conducted in 2012 (DMF‐T = 1.90) in the municipality of Nova Friburgo/RJ, Brazil …”

“…QoL was considered the dependent variable (dichotomized by the median at 16 points: ≤16 and >16) . All the independent variables were dichotomized, as follows: sex (female and male), age (11 to 19 years and 20 to 29 years), income (≤3 minimum wages and >3 minimum wages), schooling/educational level (≤8 years of schooling and >8 years of schooling), DMF‐T (0 and >0), need for dental prosthesis (no and yes), gingival bleeding (absence and presence), periodontal pocket (absence and presence [>3 mm]), dental treatment need (no and yes), toothache in the last 6 months (no and yes), visit to the dentist (no and yes), sugar consumption/day (≤4 times/day and >4 times/day), frequency of tooth brushing/day (≤2 times/day and >2 times/day), material support (dichotomized by the median: ≤13 and >13), information support (dichotomized by the median: ≤15 and >15), social support of positive social interaction (dichotomized by the median: ≤12 and >12). The Chi‐square or Exact Fisher test was used to test the association of the independent variables with the dependent variable.…”

The influence of the Brazilian school health program on the oral-health-related quality of life of adolescents

“…Crude and adjusted analyses were performed to test the associations between the dependent variable, OHRQoL (CPQ 11-14 ), dichotomised by the median (CPQ ≤ 18 and CPQ > 18), and the independent sociodemographic, clinical, and SHP access variables, which were dichotomised following Assaf et al, 18 as previously described. The variables with p < 0.20 in the crude analyses were tested in the multiple logistic regression model, with the criterion of permanence in the final model set at p ≤ 0.10.…”

“…Thus, it should be emphasised that educational interventions in oral health apart from other health actions and with fragmented approaches that separate the oral cavity from general health have been criticised because they are limited in ensuring a permanent transformation in individuals, or even in reducing health inequalities. 2,18 In addition to the factors mentioned above, it is possible to highlight the absence of a strategy of continuing education in health between the teachers and the primary care professionals that will be a part of adolescents' day-to-day life. Thus, it is necessary for the students to be motivated and the teachers trained so that the concept of oral health promotion is an integral part of school life, ensuring that the information and healthy habits acquired are applied continuously.…”

“…Independent sociodemographic, clinical, and SHP access variables were dichotomised following Assaf et al 18 as: living in a rural or urban area, sex (female or male), DMFt (≤ 0; > 0), trauma-free (yes or no), gingivitis-free (yes or no), income (≤ 1.15 Brazilian minimum wage [BMW] and > 1.15 BMW), schooling of parents/guardians (≤ 8 years of schooling and > 8 years of schooling), and adolescents belonging to SHP in school (yes or no).…”