Factors associated with dental pain in children aged 3 – 12 years in Samut Prakan

Abstract

 This study assessed factors associated with dental pain among children, aged 3 to 12 years, in Phraek Sa Town, Samut Prakan, Thailand. The research was conducted in all public and private schools within the municipality using a stratified multi-stage random sampling method. Data was collected through questionnaires completed by parents. Analysis used Relative and Slope Index of Inequality (RII and SII) and logistic regression. 28.8% of the 1,299 students noted they had experienced dental pain in the past 6 months. This was most prevalent among students from low socio-economic status (SES) backgrounds (RII=0.57; SE=0.10), with low parental educational levels (RII=0.63; SE=0.10), and from low-income families (RII=0.52; SE=0.08). Logistic regression analysis showed children from the upper-middle/higher class (UMHC) and lower-middle class (LMC) SES experienced dental pain 0.69 times (95%CI: 0.51-0.95) and 0.73 times (95%CI: 0.50-1.05) less, respectively, than those from the upper-lower class (ULC). In addition, primary school students were more prone to dental pain (OR=2.37; 95% CI = 1.59 - 3.42). On the other hand, students who brush their teeth at least twice a day (OR=0.50; 95% CI=0.38-0.65) and children whose parents rated their oral health as “good/very good” (OR=0.56; 95% CI=0.34-0.90) were less prone to dental pain. In conclusion, SES is a key factor in dental pain in children aged 3-12 with those from lower SES backgrounds experiencing more pain. Other factors, such as class level, oral health-related behavior and parents’ dental heath behaviors play a role