Influence of Oral Problems and Biopsychosocial Factors on the Utilization of Dental Services by Preschool Children.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of oral problems and biopsychosocial factors on the use of dental services by preschoolers.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was carried out with preschoolers in northeastern Brazil. Parents answered questions on visits to the dentist and sociodemographic characteristics, and completed the Brazilian version of the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale. An oral examination was performed by three dentists who were calibrated for the diagnosis of dental caries, traumatic dental injury, and malocclusion. Descriptive statistics and Poisson regression analysis with robust variance were performed (α equals five percent).


RESULTS
There were 841 children in the study whose prevalence rate of utilization of dental services was 24 percent. Utilization was significantly associated with the child's age, mother's schooling over eight years, household income, severity of dental caries, and impact on the quality of life of the family.


CONCLUSIONS
Caries severity, sociodemographic factors, and psychological factors exerted an influence on the utilization of dental services by preschool children.
Department of Dentistry, School of Dentistry, State University of Paraíba, Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil. anaflaviagg@hotmail.com.
Ana Flávia
AF
Granville-Garcia
Department of Dentistry, School of Dentistry, State University of Paraíba, Campina Grande, Paraíiba, Brazil.
Marayza Alves
MA
Clementino
Department of Dentistry, School of Dentistry, State University of Paraíba, Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil.
Monalisa Cesarino
MC
Gomes
Department of Dentistry, School of Dentistry, State University of Paraíba, Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil.
Edja Maria
EM
Costa
Department of Dentistry, School of Dentistry, State University of Paraíba, Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil.
Tássia Cristina
TC
Pinto-Sarmento
Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Saul Martins
SM
Paiva
D000367:Age Factors; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019140:Dental Care for Children / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000453:epidemiology; D009035:Mothers; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D018677:Tooth Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology