Family structure, sociodemographic factors and type of dental service associated with oral health literacy in the early adolescence

An Assessment of Oral-Health-Related Quality of Life and Anxiety in Early Adolescents (11-14 Years) at Their First Dental Visit: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Knowing the oral-health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) status of pediatric patients would be helpful in analyzing their level of dental anxiety before their first visit to a pediatric dentist. However, few studies have analyzed OHRQoL and anxiety in early adolescent patients. The aim of this study was to describe the OHRQoL and anxiety levels of early adolescents, according to age and sex, at their first dental examination. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on early adolescents (11-14 years old) attending their first dental examination in 2023-2024. OHRQoL was assessed using the Spanish version of the Child Perceptions Questionnaire 11-14 (CPQ-Esp11-14) and anxiety using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory in Children (STAIC). Results: A total of 130 early adolescents were assessed, with an average age of 12.6 years (±1.06) and an equal sex distribution (65 boys and 65 girls). Among the analyzed sample, the OHRQoL dimension with the highest score was social well-being (15.01 ± 10.7), whereas the oral symptoms dimension (8.6 ± 4.25) had the lowest impact. There were no statistically significant differences between female and male early adolescents in the anxiety state or anxiety-trait dimensions or in the dimension of OHRQoL, except for oral symptoms, which were higher in boys (9.48 ± 4.51 versus 7.72 ± 3.81). Similarly, no significant differences were found based on age regarding anxiety or OHRQoL. Conclusions: Considering the limitations of this study, it can be concluded that higher levels of anxiety negatively impacted the OHRQoL of the early adolescent population studied.

Adolescent Toothbrushing and Its Association with Sociodemographic Factors-Time Trends from 1994 to 2018 in Twenty Countries

Regular toothbrushing is the primary self-care method to prevent the most common dental diseases and is considered an important public health indicator. This retrospective observational study aimed to examine cross-national time trends in adolescent toothbrushing behaviour and its association with sociodemographic factors between 1994 and 2018. We studied data from 20 countries that conducted seven surveys of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study. Adolescents aged 11, 13 and 15 years responded to questions on their toothbrushing frequency, family affluence and structure. Altogether, reports of 691,559 students were analysed using descriptive statistics and binominal logistic regression. The findings showed an overall positive trend in the prevalence of more-than-once-a-day toothbrushing frequency during the entire study period mainly due to a noticeable increase from 1994 to 2010 (except Denmark and Sweden); this trend continued significantly thereafter in 12 of 20 countries. Across all countries, girls and adolescents from more affluent families were more likely to brush their teeth regularly. These relationships remained unchanged throughout the study period, whereas the age-related difference in toothbrushing prevalence decreased noticeably, and the negative relationship between toothbrushing and living in a non-intact family became evident. While the prevalence of regular toothbrushing among adolescents has increased in recent decades, it is still far behind the recommended level of twice-daily brushing for everyone across all countries. The promotion of toothbrushing needs to start at an early age, with a special focus on boys and adolescents from low-affluence and non-intact families.

Structuring of the effects of oral health literacy on dental caries in 12-year-old adolescents

OBJECTIVES

To explore the pathways by which oral health literacy is associated with dental caries in adolescents, assessing direct and indirect effects of family cohesion and socioeconomic status.

METHODS

A population-based, representative cross-sectional study was conducted with 740 12-year-old adolescents in Campina Grande, Brazil. Parents/guardians answered a sociodemographic questionnaire. Adolescents answered validated questionnaires addressing family cohesion and oral health literacy. Dental caries was diagnosed using Nyvad criteria. Two dentists underwent training exercises for the diagnosis and administration of the questionnaires (k > 0.80). Descriptive analysis was followed by the use of structural equation modelling to determine direct and indirect associations between the variables incorporated into the theoretical model of the study (95% CI).

RESULTS

Oral health literacy (standardized coefficient: -3.472, p < .01) and mother's schooling (standardized coefficient: -0.405, p < .01) were directly associated with dental caries, whereas family cohesion and socioeconomic status exerted an indirect effect on the occurrence of dental caries in the adolescents.

CONCLUSIONS

Sociodemographic factors, family characteristics and oral health literary are associated with dental caries in 12-year-old adolescents.

Impact of the use of dental services on dental pain according to adolescents' skin colour: a 10-year cohort

OBJECTIVE

Evaluate the association of the interaction between the use of dental services and the skin colour on the occurrence of dental pain over time.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This study is a cohort with 10 years of follow-up, started in 2010 with a sample of 639 preschool children (1-5 years old). The use of dental services, race and the presence of dental pain were self-reported by the individuals according to predefined criteria. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the interaction between skin colour and use of dental services in the occurrence of dental pain over time.

RESULTS

About 449 and 429 were reassessed in 2017 and 2020, respectively. The occurrence of dental pain across the cohort was 60.7%. Caucasian individuals who used dental services throughout the cohort had a 51% lower chance of having a dental pain than those who used dental services but were non-white (OR 0.49; 95% IC 0.27-0.90).

CONCLUSION

There was a racial inequity in the occurrence of dental pain among individuals who managed to make use of dental services throughout the follow-ups.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

The differences found should serve as a warning to the way how individuals with different characteristics are treated and must be used to combat this inequity. Individuals should receive resolute and personalized treatments according to their clinical condition and not according to their socioeconomic characteristics.