Relationship between sense of coherence and dental attendance patterns among Brazilian adolescents

This study aimed to investigate if sense of coherence (SOC) is associated with dental attendance (DA) patterns among Brazilian adolescent students. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the midwestern region of Brazil. A total of 2,905 adolescents aged 13 to 19 years from 14 public schools in 13 towns/cities in the state of Goiás were included in the study. Data on oral health-related behaviors and psychosocial factors were collected using self-administered questionnaires completed by students during regular school hours. The dependent variables were DA in the past year (yes/no) and the reason for DA (toothache/preventive check-up). SOC was assessed using the Antonovsky's Orientation to Life questionnaire (SOC-13). Adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals were estimated using binary logistic regression. Results showed that 56.2% of the students had visited a dentist within the past year, most commonly for a preventive check-up (38.7%). SOC scores ranged from 13 to 91 (mean = 49.3; SD = 12.1). In the regression model adjusted for adolescents' sociodemographic characteristics (age, sex, skin color or race, and maternal education), higher prevalence rates of DA in the past year (OR = 1.02; p < 0.001) and DA motivated by preventive check-ups (OR = 1.02; p < 0.001) were found among those with higher SOC scores. In conclusion, a significant association was found between higher SOC levels and healthier DA patterns among adolescents, regardless of socioeconomic characteristics.