Clinical, behavioral and psychosocial factors and dental visits by preschool children 

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the frequency of preschool children that have had a dental visit and to identify factors associated. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Children aged two to five years, enrolled in preschools were included (n=200). Parents/guardians answered a questionnaire and oral exams were performed using the Caries Assessment Spectrum and Treatment (CAST). The outcome was having consulted a dentist in one’s lifetime and Andersen’s behavioral model was adopted to assess independent variables associated, including predisposing factors (sex, age, maternal education), enabling factors (family income), need factors (dental caries severity, dental pain, oral health-related quality of life and oral hygiene habits), and psychosocial factors (dental fear) were evaluated. Associations were tested with Poisson regression, obtaining the prevalence ratio (PR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: Most of the children had never visited a dentist (71%; n=141), 15% (30) visited for prevention and 14% (29) visited due to oral health problems. Predisposing and enabling factors were not associated with having visited a dentist. Need factors, including severe dental caries (PR=3.11;95% CI=1.85-5.20), dental pain (PR=2.04;95% CI=1.32-2.17), toothbrush performed by parents (PR=1.99; 95% CI=1.05-3.77) and presence of impact on OHRQoL (PR=1.87; 95%CI=1.21-2.89), and absence of dental fear (psychosocial factor) were also associated with dental service use (PR=2.28; 95% CI=1.45-3.59). CONCLUSIONS: Most preschool children had never visited a dentist. Need and psychosocial factors were associated with dental services use. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Most of the preschool children have never visited a dentist and the presence of signs and symptoms and the perception of dental problems influenced search for dental treatment.