Self‐Perceived Need for Dental Treatment Among Brazilian Adolescent Students: Associations With Self‐Perceptions of Oral Health, Related Behaviours and Sociodemographic Factors

TL;DR

This study found that over 40% of Brazilian adolescents feel they need dental treatment, linked to poor oral health perceptions, unhealthy habits, and older age.

Contribution

The study identifies sociodemographic and behavioral factors associated with self-perceived dental treatment need in Brazilian adolescents.

Findings

41.4% of adolescents reported a self-perceived need for dental treatment.

Negative oral health self-ratings were strongly associated with higher odds of needing dental treatment.

Unhealthy behaviors like high sweet consumption and visiting the dentist only for pain increased treatment need perception.

Abstract

The need for dental treatment among adolescents can be assessed based on their self‐perception.

To estimate the prevalence of self‐perceived dental treatment need (SPDTN) among adolescent students and associated factors.

A cross‐sectional study was conducted in Midwest Brazil. The participants were adolescents (N = 3034) aged 13–19 from 14 public schools. Data were collected using self‐administered questionnaires. Adjusted odds ratios (OR) were estimated using binary logistic regression with a hierarchical approach.

SPDTN was reported by 41.4% of the sample. Older adolescents were more likely to have SPDTN than younger ones (OR = 1.14). Those who self‐rated their oral health negatively had 3.92 greater odds of having SPDTN than those who rated it positively. [Correction added on 27 September 2025, after first online publication: The sentence “Those who self‐rated their oral health negatively had 3.92 times greater odds of having SPDTN than those who rated it positively” was changed in this version.] SPDTN was directly associated with negative perceptions of dental appearance (OR = 2.97), chewing (OR = 1.80) and relationships with others affected by oral health (OR = 1.59). Moreover, SPDTN was associated with adolescents reporting toothache (OR = 1.78) and bleeding gums (OR = 1.41). High consumption of sweets and going to the dentist due to a toothache instead of periodic examinations increased the odds of SPDTN by 1.46 and 2.36, respectively.

The prevalence of SPDTN among adolescents was high and associated with negative perceptions regarding their oral health, unhealthy behaviours and older age.

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