Structuring of the effects of oral health literacy on dental caries in 12‐year‐old adolescents

Abstract

ObjectivesTo explore the pathways by which oral health literacy is associated with dental caries in adolescents, assessing direct and indirect effects of family cohesion and socioeconomic status.MethodsA population‐based, representative cross‐sectional study was conducted with 740 12‐year‐old adolescents in Campina Grande, Brazil. Parents/guardians answered a sociodemographic questionnaire. Adolescents answered validated questionnaires addressing family cohesion and oral health literacy. Dental caries was diagnosed using Nyvad criteria. Two dentists underwent training exercises for the diagnosis and administration of the questionnaires (k > 0.80). Descriptive analysis was followed by the use of structural equation modelling to determine direct and indirect associations between the variables incorporated into the theoretical model of the study (95% CI).ResultsOral health literacy (standardized coefficient: −3.472, p < .01) and mother's schooling (standardized coefficient: −0.405, p < .01) were directly associated with dental caries, whereas family cohesion and socioeconomic status exerted an indirect effect on the occurrence of dental caries in the adolescents.ConclusionsSociodemographic factors, family characteristics and oral health literary are associated with dental caries in 12‐year‐old adolescents.

Sleep disorders, anxiety and obesity associated with untreated dental caries in children eight to ten years of age

“…The present data show that children in families with a lower income and whose mothers had less schooling were more likely to have untreated dental caries. Previous studies have also reported that caries affects the population in an unequal manner, with a higher incidence among economically vulnerable individuals [3,27]. These aspects are related to limited knowledge regarding caries prevention as well as difficulty gaining access to dental services [27].…”

“…In Brazil, 44.3% to 66.3% of children in the mixed dentition phase are affected by this problem [1]. Besides biological and environmental factors, psychosocial aspects may contribute to the development of dental caries in different age groups [3].…”