Oral Problems and Self-Confidence in Preschool Children

Braz Dent J. 2017 Jul-Aug;28(4):523-530. doi: 10.1590/0103-6440201601295.

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of clinical oral factors, socioeconomic factors and parental sense of coherence on affected self-confidence in preschool children due to oral problems. A cross-sectional study with probabilistic sampling was conducted at public and private preschools with 769 five-year-old children and their parents/caretakers. A questionnaire addressing socio-demographic characteristics as well as the Scale of Oral Health Outcomes for Five-Year-Old Children (SOHO-5) and the Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC-13) were administered. The dependent variable was self-confidence and was determined using the SOHO-5 tool. Dental caries (ICDAS II), malocclusion and traumatic dental injury (TDI) were recorded during the clinical exam. Clinical examinations were performed by examiners who had undergone training and calibration exercises (intra-examiner agreement: 0.82-1.00 and inter-examiner agreement: 0.80-1.00). Descriptive statistics and Poisson regression analysis were performed (a=5%). Among the children, 91.3% had dental caries, 57.7% had malocclusion, 52.8% had signs of traumatic dental injury and 26.9% had bruxism. The following variables exerted a greater negative impact on the self-confidence of the preschool children due to oral problems: attending public school (PR=2.26; 95% CI: 1.09-4.68), a history of toothache (PR=4.45; 95% CI: 2.00-9.91) and weak parental sense of coherence (PR=2.27; 95% CI: 1.03-5.01). Based on the present findings, clinical variables (dental pain), socio-demographic characteristics and parental sense of coherence can exert a negative impact on self-confidence in preschool children due to oral problems.

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Dental Caries / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Malocclusion / psychology*
  • Oral Health*
  • Parents*
  • Pilot Projects
  • Quality of Life
  • Self Concept*
  • Social Class
  • Tooth Injuries / psychology*