Contextual and individual assessment of dental pain period prevalence in adolescents: a multilevel approach.

Marco A Peres,José Leopoldo F Antunes,Antônio C Frias,Karen G Peres

doi:10.1186/1472-6831-10-20

Marco A Peres, José Leopoldo F Antunes + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6831-10-20

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Abstract

BackgroundDespite evidence that health and disease occur in social contexts, the vast majority of studies addressing dental pain exclusively assessed information gathered at individual level.ObjectivesTo assess the association between dental pain and contextual and individual characteristics in Brazilian adolescents. In addition, we aimed to test whether contextual Human Development Index is independently associated with dental pain after adjusting for individual level variables of socio-demographics and dental characteristics.MethodsThe study used data from an oral health survey carried out in São Paulo, Brazil, which included dental pain, dental exams, individual socioeconomic and demographic conditions, and Human Development Index at area level of 4,249 12-year-old and 1,566 15-year-old schoolchildren. The Poisson multilevel analysis was performed.ResultsDental pain was found among 25.6% (95%CI = 24.5-26.7) of the adolescents and was 33% less prevalent among those living in more developed areas of the city than among those living in less developed areas. Girls, blacks, those whose parents earn low income and have low schooling, those studying at public schools, and those with dental treatment needs presented higher dental-pain prevalence than their counterparts. Area HDI remained associated with dental pain after adjusting for individual level variables of socio demographic and dental characteristics.ConclusionsGirls, students whose parents have low schooling, those with low per capita income, those classified as having black skin color and those with dental treatment needs had higher dental pain prevalence than their counterparts. Students from areas with low Human Development Index had higher prevalence of dental pain than those from the more developed areas regardless of individual characteristics.

Highlights

Despite evidence that health and disease occur in social contexts, the vast majority of studies addressing dental pain exclusively assessed information gathered at individual level
Girls, students whose parents have low schooling, those with low per capita income, those classified as having black skin color and those with dental treatment needs had higher dental pain prevalence than their counterparts
We aimed to test whether contextual Human Development Index is independently associated with dental pain after adjusting for individual level variables of socio-demographics and dental characteristics

Summary

Introduction

Despite evidence that health and disease occur in social contexts, the vast majority of studies addressing dental pain exclusively assessed information gathered at individual level. Dental pain is described as pain originating from innervated tissues of the tooth or immediately adjacent to it [1]. It is a subjective oral health indicator caused mainly by dental caries and should become uncommon when oral health improves [2]. Reducing the population level of dental pain and the number of days absent from school, employment, and work owing to pain of oral and craniofacial origin are targets of Global Goals for Oral Health 2020 [10], and, societal efforts must be applied to achieve these goals

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