Oral health-related quality of life and sense of coherence regarding the use of dental services by preschool children.
BACKGROUND
There is a need for studies on the biopsychosocial factors that influence the use of dental services by preschoolers.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the influence of the perceptions of parents/caretakers and children regarding oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) as well as the sense of coherence (SOC) of parents/caretakers on the use of dental services among Brazilian preschoolers.


METHODS
A school-based, cross-sectional study was conducted with 768 preschoolers. Parents/caretakers answered a questionnaire addressing socio-demographic characteristics. The OHRQoL of the children was measured using the Scale of Oral Health Outcomes for Five-Year-Old Children. SOC among the parents/caretakers was evaluated using the Sense of Coherence scale. Clinical examinations were performed by examiners who had previously undergone a training exercise. Descriptive analysis was conducted, followed by Poisson's regression analysis (α = 5%).


RESULTS
A total of 56.5% of the preschoolers had never used dental services. The following variables exerted a significant influence on the use of services: higher monthly household income (PR = 1.27; 95% CI: 1.07-1.51), toothache (PR = 1.59; 95% CI: 1.34-1.89), the absence of traumatic dental injury (TDI; PR = 1.18; 95% CI: 1.01-1.40), and a strong SOC (PR = 1.19; 95% CI: 1.01-1.42).


CONCLUSIONS
A higher monthly household income, history of toothache, the absence of TDI, and strong SOC of the parents/caretakers influence the use of dental services by preschoolers.
Postgraduate Program in Dentistry, State University of Paraíba (UEPB), Campina Grande, PB, Brazil.
Matheus França
MF
Perazzo
Postgraduate Program in Dentistry, State University of Paraíba (UEPB), Campina Grande, PB, Brazil.
Monalisa Cesarino
MC
Gomes
Postgraduate Program in Dentistry, State University of Paraíba (UEPB), Campina Grande, PB, Brazil.
Érick Tássio
ÉT
Neves
Department of Paediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
Carolina Castro
CC
Martins
Department of Paediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
Saul Martins
SM
Paiva
Postgraduate Program in Dentistry, State University of Paraíba (UEPB), Campina Grande, PB, Brazil.
Ana Flávia
AF
Granville-Garcia
D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003729:Dental Care; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology; D003815:Dentists; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000453:epidemiology; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009909:Oral Health; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life; D060685:Sense of Coherence; D020186:Sleep Bruxism / Q000453:epidemiology; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D018677:Tooth Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D014098:Toothache