Desigualdades relacionadas à dor dentária em crianças e adolescentes

Abstract

Recent studies have shown how unequal the distribution of oral diseases in different ethnic, social and economic groups and it is the same for dental pain. This condition may compromise basic daily activities of children and adolescents and negatively influence oral health-related quality of life. Dental pain is more prevalent in socially disadvantaged subgroups. Because it is primarily associated with dental caries, it is an avoidable condition and therefore needs to be monitored and prevented. In view of this, the aim of this thesis was to investigate inequalities related to the occurrence of dental pain in children and adolescents at the national and global levels. A systematic review was conducted in order to answer the following research question: "How unequal is the occurrence of dental pain in children and adolescents in the world?". Metaanalysis was performed using a random model. The trend of dental-related inequalities in adolescents was investigated through the National School Health Survey (PeNSE), carried out with schoolchildren of the ninth grade, enrolled in school years 2009, 2012 and 2015 in public and private schools. The stratifier used was maternal schooling and the indicators of inequality used were slope index (SII) and concentration index (CIX). The same indicators of inequalities were used to assess dental pain in children participating in the 2004 birth cohort. In this last study, the stratifiers evaluated were maternal schooling, family income at birth and changes in family income throughout life course. Inequalities were observed in the occurrence of dental pain in children and adolescents at a national and global level, and the prevalence of pain was higher in girls, children and adolescents with black skin color, with a worse socioeconomic status, in children of less educated mothers with episodes of poverty throughout life. In relation to the Brazilian population, it can be observed that there was no reduction in the inequalities of dental pain in adolescents in the country from 2009 to 2015. Still, the inequalities were more marked in the North and Northeast regions. Thus, in view of the inequalities found in the distribution of dental pain and the impact that pain can have on the lives of children and adolescents, actions in public health should be conducted to reduce these inequalities.