Oral Problems and Self-Confidence in Preschool Children

ABSTRACT

Abstract The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of clinical oral factors, socioeconomic factors and parental sense of coherence on affected self-confidence in preschool children due to oral problems. A cross-sectional study with probabilistic sampling was conducted at public and private preschools with 769 five-year-old children and their parents/caretakers. A questionnaire addressing socio-demographic characteristics as well as the Scale of Oral Health Outcomes for Five-Year-Old Children (SOHO-5) and the Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC-13) were administered. The dependent variable was self-confidence and was determined using the SOHO-5 tool. Dental caries (ICDAS II), malocclusion and traumatic dental injury (TDI) were recorded during the clinical exam. Clinical examinations were performed by examiners who had undergone training and calibration exercises (intra-examiner agreement 0.82-1.00 and inter-examiner agreement 0.80-1.00). Descriptive statistics and Poisson regression analysis were performed (a=5%). Among the children, 91.3% had dental caries, 57.7% had malocclusion, 52.8% had signs of traumatic dental injury and 26.9% had bruxism. The following variables exerted a greater negative impact on the self-confidence of the preschool children due to oral problems attending public school (PR=2.26; 95% CI 1.09-4.68), a history of toothache (PR=4.45; 95% CI 2.00-9.91) and weak parental sense of coherence (PR=2.27; 95% CI 1.03-5.01). Based on the present findings, clinical variables (dental pain), socio-demographic characteristics and parental sense of coherence can exert a negative impact on self-confidence in preschool children due to oral problems.

RESUMO

Resumo O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a interferência de fatores clínicos bucais, socioeconômicos e senso de coerência (dos pais) no prejuízo de autoconfiança devido alterações de saúde bucal em pré-escolares. Um estudo transversal com amostra probabilística foi realizado em pré-escolas públicas e privadas com 769 crianças de 5 anos de idade e seus responsáveis. Questionários de variáveis sociodemográficas, o Scale of Oral Health Outcomes for Five-Year-Old Children (SOHO-5) e Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC-13) foram aplicados na amostra. A variável dependente foi autoconfiança e coletada a partir do questionário SOHO-5. Cárie dentária (ICDAS II), má oclusão e traumatismo dentário foram registrados durante o exame clínico. Exames clínicos foram realizados nos pré-escolares por examinadores previamente calibrados (acordo intra-examinador 0,82-1,00 e acordo inter-examinador 0,80-1,00). Análise descritiva e Regressão de Poisson foram aplicadas (a=5%). Entre as crianças avaliadas, 91,3% apresentaram cárie dentária, 57,7% maloclusão, 52,8% traumatismo dentário e 26,9% bruxismo. As seguintes variáveis mostraram uma maior média de prejuízo na autoconfiança dos pré-escolares devido alterações de saúde bucal frequentar pré-escola pública (PR=2,26; 95% CI 1,09-4,68), histórico de dor de dente (PR=4,45; 95% CI 2,00-9,91) e fraco senso de coerência dos pais (PR=2,27; 95% CI 1,03-5,01). Com base nos resultados, pode-se concluir que variáveis clínicas, como a dor de dente, sociodemográfica e senso de coerência dos pais podem interferir na autoconfiança devido a alterações de saúde bucal em pré-escolares.