This study aimed to test the association of contextual and individual socioeconomic status with tooth loss among Brazilian elderly people aged 65–74 years. Data from 5435 elderly participants from the Brazilian National Oral Health Survey (2010) were linked to city-level data for 27 state capitals and the Federal District. Tooth loss was clinically assessed according to the number of missing natural teeth. Contextual social variables included Human Development Index income (HDI-income) and HDI-education. Individual socioeconomic measures were monthly family income and years of schooling. Covariates included sex, skin colour, number of residents per room and number of goods. Multilevel Negative Binomial regression models were used to estimate rate ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals between contextual and individual variables and tooth loss. Contextual and individual income and education measures were consistently associated with tooth loss. Elderly people living in cities with low HDI-income and low HDI-education were respectively 21% and 33% more likely to present tooth loss. Cross-level interaction suggested that the relationship of lower income and lower schooling with tooth loss is different across levels of city-level income and city-level education inequality, respectively. Public policies aiming to reduce the income and education gaps and preventive dental interventions are imperative to tackle tooth loss among elderly people.

In the light of the scarcity of epidemiological studies on the oral health of the general population within the context of the Amazon region, this study aimed to estimate the prevalence of dental caries and gingivitis, as well as to evaluate the need for restorative treatment, among school students aged 15 to 19 years in the city of Manaus, AM, Brazil. A cross-sectional study was carried out on a sample of 889 students from within city limits who were enrolled in 26 public and private schools. Dental examinations were performed to obtain the DMFT index (decayed, missing and filled teeth) as well as to determine the treatments needed. The gingival index (Lõe & Silness) was used to classify gingivitis. The intra-examiner diagnostic concordance was 94% and the Kappa statistic was 0.91. The DMFT index found was 4.65 (± 0.12), without significant difference between the sexes or skin color groups. The prevalence of dental caries was 87.4%. Restoration of a dental surface was the greatest need (59.3%). Slight gingival inflammation was present in 78.5% and gingival bleeding following probing occurred in 53.3%. Although the DMFT index was lower than that observed for the northern region of Brazil, restorative dental services are lacking for this population. Additional studies are suggested to better understand the differences found.

Background: To examine the role of dental pain, sense of coherence (SOC) and social support on the relationship between dental caries and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in children aged 12 years. Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 400 schoolchildren selected from public schools in a socioeconomically disadvantaged region in the city of Manaus, Brazil was carried out. The predictors of OHRQoL were selected according to the Wilson and Cleary theoretical model, including number of decayed teeth and its clinical consequence (component D of the DMFT index and PUFA/pufa index), dental pain (symptom status), and SOC and social support (individual and environmental characteristics). Statistical analysis was conducted through structural equation modelling and multivariable negative binomial regression. The significance level established for all analyses was 5%. Results: Number of dental caries was indirectly linked with OHRQoL (β = 0.19, 95% CI 0.11/0.29) through dental pain, SOC and social support. Clinical consequences of untreated caries directly predicted poor OHRQoL (β = 0.12, 95% CI 0.01/0.23). Dental pain, SOC and social support did not moderate the effect of dental caries measures on OHRQoL. Conclusion: Our findings suggest the role of dental pain, SOC and social support as mediator factors on the link between dental caries and OHRQoL. Tackling dental caries along with psychosocial factors may attenuated the impact of oral health on OHRQoL in children.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the oral health conditions of pregnant women enrolled in the Prenatal and Birth Humanization Program of the Theomário Pinto Costa primary healthcare unit in the south-central zone of Manaus, Amazonas METHODS: The population comprised 50 pregnant women, independent of pregnancy trimester. To assess the prevalence of dental caries, we used the DMFT Index, and for gingivitis, we used the Plaque Index and Gingival Bleeding Index. A questionnaire was used to investigate socioeconomic conditions, access to dental services and self-perception regarding oral health. RESULTS: One hundred percent of the population presented with caries; the mean DMFT score was 10.0, and the M component (missing teeth) was predominant (4.28). Among the pregnant women examined, 62% presented with moderate gingival inflammation, and 64% presented with at least some plaque. With regard to educational level, 10% of the population had completed an elementary education, 20% had not completed an elementary education, 34% had completed a high school education, and 6% had not completed a university-level education. CONCLUSION: Considering the results, it can be seen that the oral health status of the population was unfavorable, although a majority considered their oral health to be normal or good.