Factors associated with last dental visit or not to visit the dentist by Brazilian adolescents: A population-based study

Abstract

ObjectivesWe investigated the factors associated with no dental visit within the last two years by adolescents in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, by using data from the Oral Health Conditions of São Paulo state population Project (SBSP-2015) conducted in 2015.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional epidemiological study with a representative sample of adolescents aged 15 to higher years residing in São Paulo State. The examiners were calibrated and dental visits were measured categorically as 1- Less than 1 year, 2- One to two years, 3 - Three years or more, 4- I have never visited the dentist. Based on the literature we dichotomized the outcome in two groups: response 1 plus 2 against response 3 plus 4. Then, Multilevel Poisson Regression (MPR) was used to estimate the prevalence ratios of last dental visit three years or had never been to a dentist by adolescents compared with those who had visited the dentist within the past two years, with contextual variables as the distal level; sociodemographic variables, mesial; and individual variables, proximal level.ResultsA high percentage of adolescents (84.9%) reported visiting the dentist in the last 2 years. Whereas, 626 (11.6%) had not visited the dentist for over 3 years and 188 (3.4%) had never been. A significantly higher proportion of females than males reported visiting the dentist in the past 2 years (p = 0.003). The oral and dental condition was reported as satisfactory by 4,350 respondents (80.6%), and when they accessed the health service, 2,286 (42.3%) went to the public service. Lower mean family income (1.62PR;95%CI;1.36–1.94); ≥ 1,000 inhabitant/Dental Surgeons (1.25PR;95%IC;1.03–1.56);male (1.26PR;95%CI; 1.11–1.43) non-Caucasian ethnicity (Mulatto:1.30PR;95%CI;1.13–1.50 and Black:1.58PR;95%CI;1.29–1.93); dissatisfaction with the oral health condition (1.20PR;95%CI;1.01–1.45),last visit to the public service versus private service (2.26PR; 95%CI;1.91–2.65) and presenting with periodontal disease in the form of dental calculus as the worst situation (1.38PR; 95%CI; 1.16–1.53) were associated with last visit to the dentist.ConclusionsA high proportion of adolescents had visited the dentist in the last two years. No dental visit within the last two years by adolescents were associated with contextual, health care system, sociodemographic, personal and oral health status, demonstrating that this is a complex phenomenon. Actions to promote regular dental visits by adolescents in Brazil should take these factors into consideration.

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

“…Previous studies have reported similar findings . A lower socioeconomic status is believed to exert a negative effect on access to dental services and efforts directed at seeking such services; this may contribute to the higher prevalence of dental caries among students with a lower socioeconomic status . Moreover, low‐income families may encounter financial limitations with respect to improving their oral health by purchasing preventive materials, such as toothbrushes and fluoride toothpaste.…”

Predisposing, enabling, and need characteristics of dental services utilization among socially deprived schoolchildren

“…Therefore, oral health policies focusing on oral health promotion and dental prevention are crucial to improve children's oral health with greater impact on access and utilization of dental services. Possible population strategies to improve access to dental services should include public policies focusing on the reduction of social inequalities as well as on the expansion of public dental services to enhance regular dental visits . Other studies suggest the improvement of sense of coherence during early life may have a positive impact on well‐being once individuals with strong sense of coherence tend to adopt positive healthy behaviors, including taking their children to preventive dental visits …”

Individual and contextual factors associated with traumatic dental injuries in a population of Brazilian adolescents

“…Research was conducted exclusively in households from the related municipalities. More information about the sampling plan and methodological procedures of SBSP‐15 were described by Fonseca et al …”

“…More information about the sampling plan and methodological procedures of SBSP-15 were described by Fonseca et al 15 The codes and criteria for tooth crown conditions were carried out according to the WHO Manual. 16 The TDI variable was studied as a dichotomous variable, discriminated in the presence (part of the coronal surface was lost as a result of trauma and there was no evidence of caries) or absence of trauma.…”