Prevalence of Dental Pain in Schoolchildren Aged 6 to 12 Years and Clinical, Sociodemographic, and Socioeconomic Risk Indicators: A Multicenter Study of Four Mexican Cities
<b>Background:</b> Dental pain is a significant public health issue globally and in Mexico, with substantial negative impacts on affected individuals. <b>Objective:</b> The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of dental pain and its association with clinical...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Pediatric Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2036-7503/16/4/89 |
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| Summary: | <b>Background:</b> Dental pain is a significant public health issue globally and in Mexico, with substantial negative impacts on affected individuals. <b>Objective:</b> The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of dental pain and its association with clinical, sociodemographic, and socioeconomic risk indicators in schoolchildren aged 6 to 12 years in four cities in Mexico. <b>Material and Methods:</b> A cross-sectional study was conducted on 500 children attending public schools in the cities of Pachuca, Tepatitlán, Toluca, and San Luis Potosí. A questionnaire was applied, and a clinical examination was performed on the schoolchildren. Self-reported dental pain within the 12 months preceding the study, categorized as 0 (no pain) and 1 (pain), was used as the dependent variable. For the statistical analysis, the Stata program was used, where a multivariate binary logistic regression model was applied. <b>Results:</b> The mean age was 8.92 ± 1.99 years; 50% were girls. The prevalence of dental pain was 34.0%. Independent variables associated (<i>p</i> < 0.05) with the experience of dental pain were as follows: age (OR = 0.81), having a car at home (OR = 0.77), a lower socioeconomic position (OR = 2.03), curative or specialized dental care (OR = 8.40), and self-reported dental and/or gingival disease (OR = 5.39). <b>Conclusions:</b> Dental pain is a significant health problem in schoolchildren aged 6 to 12 years in Mexico, with a prevalence of 34% in this study. Sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors, as well as clinical indicators, play an important role in the experience of dental pain. Inequalities in oral health were observed. There is a need for public health interventions to reduce this problem in vulnerable populations. |
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| ISSN: | 2036-7503 |