Six-year trends in dental pain and maternal education inequalities among Brazilian adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse trends in dental pain prevalence among Brazilian adolescent students over 6 years, focusing on inequalities by maternal education. METHODS: Data from the National Adolescent School-Based Health Survey (PeNSE) carried out in 2009 (n = 45 239), 2012 (n = 46 482) and 2015 (n = 35 592) were analysed, including ninth grade students from the 27 state capitals in Brazil who were of ages 11-17 years or older. Variables analysed were dental pain within the last 6 months (yes/no) and the following sociodemographic factors: age, sex, race, type of school and maternal schooling (years of study: ≤8; 9-11; ≥12). The prevalence of dental pain in the 3 years was compared using the Rao-Scott test. Relative and absolute measures of socioeconomic (maternal education) inequalities in dental pain were applied using the slope index of inequality (SII) and the relative concentration index (RCI). RESULTS: The prevalence of dental pain increased from 17.5% (95% CI = 16.9-18.2) in 2009 to 20.4% (95% CI = 19.7-21.1) in 2012, then to 21.8% (95% CI = 21.1-22.5) in 2015. All sociodemographic factors investigated were associated with dental pain in all survey years. There was an increasing proportion of the outcome in all categories of maternal education over the years studied. Absolute (SII) and relative (RCI) inequalities regarding of maternal education were found; these indicate higher levels of dental pain in the lower socioeconomic group in each study year. However, no significant changes in inequalities were found from 2009 to 2015. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of dental pain increased in the 2009-2012 and 2012-2015 periods, and social inequalities were found. Higher levels of dental pain persisted in the lower maternal education group. Inequalities remained stable over time. Broader actions to reduce the existing inequalities are needed and should be a priority for public policies.

Individual and contextual determinants of dental pain in adolescents: Evidence from a national survey.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of dental pain among adolescent students and its association with individual, school and city variables, using a multilevel approach. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Individual and school data were obtained from the National Adolescent School-Based Health Survey (PeNSE) conducted in Brazil in 2015 in a sample of 34,776 students from 1,339 schools in the 27 Brazilian capital cities. Secondary data on socioeconomic, structural and health indicators of the cities were obtained from public databases. The outcome was the prevalence of dental pain in the last six months (yes/no). Independent variables, consisting of potential social and behavioural determinants of dental pain, were structured in three levels: individual, school and city. Multilevel logistic regression was performed. RESULTS: Prevalence of dental pain was 21.8% (95% CI = 21.0-22.7). Unadjusted analysis showed significant associations between the outcome and most of the factors in the individual and in the contextual levels. In the final adjusted model, adolescents who reported unfavourable health-related behaviours, adverse socioeconomic or psychosocial characteristics, as well as those attending public schools and living in cities with high caries prevalence (DMFT) at age 12, were more likely to report dental pain. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of dental pain was high and associated with adverse individual and contextual factors in the school and city levels.

Impact of patient characteristics on edentulous subjects' preferences for prosthodontic rehabilitation with implants.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the influence of patient characteristics on edentulous subjects' preferences for different prosthodontic treatments with implants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out with 131 edentulous subjects referred for treatment at a university clinic. Participants received detailed information about available treatment options and were asked to rank their preferences among three alternatives for rehabilitation of the maxilla and mandible: conventional dentures (CD), 2-implant-retained overdentures (IOD), or 4-implant fixed dentures (IFD). Individual data and prosthodontic-related variables were assessed through interviews. Oral health-related quality of life impacts was measured using the Brazilian version of the Oral Health Impact Profile for edentulous subjects (OHIP-Edent). Descriptive statistics, bivariate tests, and binary and multinomial logistic regressions were used for data analysis. RESULTS: The majority of participants chose CD as their most preferred treatment for the maxilla (45.8%), while IFD was the most prevalent choice for the mandible (38.9%). Regression analysis showed that the OHIP-Edent "oral pain and dysfunction" (OPD) domain scores were positively associated with IOD preference for the maxilla (OR = 1.31; p = 0.010) and mandible (OR = 1.46; p = 0.002) and with IFD preference for the mandible (OR = 1.20; p = 0.031). Subjects with lower levels of formal education and those with lower income levels were less likely to choose IFD. CONCLUSION: Level of education, income, and perceived quality of life impacts are potentially predictive variables of edentulous patients' preference for rehabilitation with implants. These factors may constitute important aspects to be considered by clinicians when treatment planning for edentulous patients.

Clustering patterns of oral and general health-risk behaviours in Brazilian adolescents: Findings from a national survey.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate how oral and general health-risk behaviours cluster among Brazilian adolescents. METHODS: The study comprised a total of 109 104 adolescents (52.2% female) participating in the Brazilian National School-based Student Health Survey (PeNSE). Seventeen behaviours (including diet; oral and hand hygiene; frequency of dental visits; tobacco, alcohol and drug use; sexual behaviour; physical activity, and risk for external causes) were measured using a self-reported questionnaire. Pairwise correlations between the health-risk behaviours were performed, and clustering was assessed by the hierarchical agglomerative cluster analysis (HACA), which was used to identify stable cluster solutions of the health-risk behaviours. RESULTS: All health-risk behaviours were correlated with at least 1 behaviour (P < .01). HACA indicated 2 broad stable clusters (n = 105 604). The first cluster included current smoking, illegal drug use, no hand washing before meals, unprotected sex, no helmet use, less frequent toothbrushing, no seatbelt use, physical fighting, skipping breakfast, current drinking, high sugar intake and, at the final stage, no dental visits. The second cluster included insufficient physical activity, eating while watching TV or studying, and low fruit intake. CONCLUSIONS: The health-risk behaviours clustered into 2 specific patterns among Brazilian adolescents. One cluster gathered a combination of lack of adherence to preventive behaviours and the undertaking of risky conduct, while the second reflected an unhealthy lifestyle (sedentary habits and low fruit diet). Knowledge about the clustering patterns of oral and general health behaviours in adolescents can better direct the integration of oral and general health promotion interventions.

Relationship between rates of attending religious services and oral health in Brazilian adolescents.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether there is a relationship between rates of attending religious services and oral health and oral health-related behaviors in Brazilian adolescents. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out using clinical examinations and self-applied questionnaires. Sample was 664 15-year-old schoolchildren from public and private schools in the city of Goiânia-GO, Middle-West Brazil. Dependent variables were dental caries (DMFT and DMFS), periodontal condition (Plaque Index and bleeding on probing), perceived importance given to the care of the teeth and oral health-related behaviors (sugar consumption, oral hygiene and pattern of dental attendance). Independent explanatory variable was frequency of attending religious services. Poisson log-linear regressions were used for statistical analysis of the data. RESULTS: Oral health status was not associated with attending religious services. Attending religious services was positively associated with oral health behaviors such as pattern of dental attendance for dental checkups and to the importance given to the care of the teeth. These associations remained statistically significant after controlling for sex and social class (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents' frequency of attending religious services is not associated with their oral health status but is positively related to pattern of dental attendance and perceived importance of care of their teeth.