[Access to information on oral hygiene and tooth loss due to caries among adults].
This study sought to establish the association between tooth loss due to dental caries and variables related to access to information on oral health in adults aged 35-44 years (n = 780) who participated in a large epidemiological study. The dependent variable was total tooth loss due to caries. The independent variables were grouped into blocks: demographic and socio-economic characteristics, use of dental service, access to oral health information (about how to prevent oral problems; oral hygiene; and diet), and behaviors. The analysis was conducted using hierarchical multiple linear regression. The mean number of lost teeth due to caries was 7.03. High numbers of lost teeth were higher among females and older adults; low levels of education; adults who rarely/never received oral hygiene information; those who brushed their teeth once a day or less; and those adults who did not use dental floss (p < 0.05). Adults who rarely/never received oral hygiene information from dental services lost 2.15 more teeth due to caries than those who always/often received such information (p = 0,000). Thus, it is suggested that access to information should be encouraged to contribute to greater equity in oral health.
Desirée Sant'Ana
DS
Haikal
Andréa Maria Eleutério de Barros Lima
AM
Martins
Pedro Henrique Soares
PH
Aguiar
Marise Fagundes
MF
Silveira
Alfredo Maurício Batista
AM
de Paula
Efigênia
E
Ferreira e Ferreira
D022126:Access to Information; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*