title: [Use of dental services by preschool children in Canela, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil].
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the use of dental services and age at first dental visit in preschool children in Canela, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. A representative sample of under-five children was surveyed on National Children's Vaccination Day. Children's parents completed questionnaires containing socio-demographic data and age at first dental visit. Data were analyzed using multiple logistic regression. 192 children were examined. 13.3% of the sample had already visited the dentist at least once, but only 4.3% had their first dental visit by one year of age. The number of children who had already visited a dentist increased with age. Girls showed higher odds of having visited a dentist (OR = 1.46; 95%CI: 1.01-2.1). Public health strategies are needed to determine the effectiveness of health promotion and improve the use of dental services by preschool children.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Odontopediatria, Universidade Luterana do Brasil, Canoas, Brasil.
authors.forename: Paulo Floriani
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Kramer
authors.forename: Thiago Machado
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Ardenghi
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Laura de Almeida
authors.initials: Lde A
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.forename: Carlos Alberto
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Feldens
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019140:Dental Care for Children / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016015:Logistic Models; D009819:Office Visits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009909:Oral Health; D011640:Public Policy; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population