Cárie dentária, perda dentária e qualidade de vida de indivíduos expostos a fatores de risco social no nordeste do Brasil

Abstract

To estimate the prevalence of dental caries (DMFT) and tooth loss in individuals exposed to social risk factors in Northeastern Brazil and to evaluate the relative association of these parameters with oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). This is a population-based cross-sectional study carried out in an urban area of 28 municipalities, with a final sample of 3,063 participants. The conduct and reporting of this cross-sectional population-based study is consistent with STROBE guidelines. The target age groups were: 12 years (n = 194), 15-19 years (n = 817), 35-44 years (n = 1,302), and 65-74 years (n = 750). A questionnaire containing questions about socioeconomic and behavioral conditions and self-perception of oral health (OHIP-14) was used. Dental examinations (DMFT) were performed by calibrated dentists under indirect daylight during home visits and after supervised brushing. Study data were tabulated and analyzed using the SPSS v.22 program, considering a significance level of 5%. The Kolmogorov–Smirnov test was performed to verify the normality of the data. In order to evaluate the means, standard deviations and intervals, descriptive analyzes of the individual and total scores of the OHIP-14 domains were performed. Individual domains and total OHIP-14 scores with dental caries, tooth loss, and socioeconomic/demographic factors in the sample were subjected to a Poisson regression analysis with robust variance. Mean DMFT (SD) values were 2.68 (4.01), 4.84 (4.30), 15.35 (7.26) and 26.72 (8.03) for 12, 15-19 , 35-44 and 65-74 years of age, respectively. Seventy percent of individuals were partially edentulous and total edentulism affected 13% of this population. The average of the CPOD and tooth loss increased significantly with age and with impacts on HRQoL. Physical pain (5.8%) and psychological discomfort (5.8%) were the dimensions of the OHIP-14 that occurred most frequently. The adjusted multivariate model showed a significant negative impact on quality of life related to the prevalence of untreated caries (RR = 1.54; 95% CI = 1.37-1.72), edentulism prevalence (RR = 1.29; 95% = 1.08-1.53) and need for prosthesis (RR = 0.54; 95% CI = 0.90-0.97). Socioeconomic/demographic characteristics such as income, education, sex, age, oral hygiene habits also resulted in a negative impact on quality of life. With the exception of the age group of 12 years, there is a high prevalence of dental caries and edentulism in the individuals in this study. It was concluded that the dental condition results in a negative impact on the quality of life of individuals, especially in the elderly age group.