The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of tooth loss among Brazilian adults aged 35 to 44 years. The study also tested the association between tooth loss and demographic, socioeconomic, and dental-care utilization variables. Data were analyzed from 13,431 individuals submitted to dental examination and interviewed in the National Oral Health Survey in 2002-2003. The number of lost teeth (£ 12 and > 12) was the outcome. Exploratory variables included geographic area, gender, skin color, age, per capita income, schooling, time since last dental appointment, and type of dental service used. Crude and adjusted prevalence ratios were estimated using a Poisson regression model. The prevalence of edentulism was 9%, while median tooth loss was 11. Tooth loss was strongly associated with living in rural areas, female gender, poor socioeconomic status, low schooling, and older age. Individuals who attended public dental care services and those with more time elapsed since their last dental appointment showed a higher prevalence of tooth loss than their counterparts after controlling for demographic and socioeconomic factors.
Tooth Loss; Oral Health; Health Inequalities; Adult
