Prevalência de hipersensibilidade em crianças de 8 a 10 anos: resultados parciais

Abstract

Introduction: Dentin hypersensitivity (DH) is one of the main complaints related to oral health in the general population. This manifestation is characterized by the presence of acute, provoked and short-lived pain sensitivity due to exposure of the dentinal tubules in response to external stimuli, such as thermal, tactile, osmotic, chemical or evaporative and cannot be attributed to any other form of dental problems. Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of selfreported DH in schoolchildren aged 8 to 10 years in the city of Lagarto, Sergipe, Brazil. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study that verified the self-report of hypersensitivity to cold, heat and probing. In addition, the presence of gingivitis, caries and enamel defects were investigated to verify an association with self-reported DH. A quality of life and family impact questionnaire were applied. Data collection was carried out from May 2021 to April 2022. Descriptive statistics and application of Pearson's chi-square and Fischer's exact tests were performed. Results: The partial sample consisted of 108 children, 56 (51.9%) were male, with a mean age of 9.14 years. Self-reported sensitivity to probe, cold, and heat was 12.0%, 41.7%, and 17.6%, respectively. The most prevalent oral alterations were gingival bleeding (74.1%) and dental caries (62.0%). Self-reported DH was significantly associated with negative impact on quality of life (19.6% versus 51.9%, p = 0.001, OR - 4.42; 95%CI 1.88-10.38). Conclusion: In the partial results of this study, self-reported DH was not associated with oral health problems, but had a significant negative impact on the quality of life of children aged 8 to 10 years compared to those who did not report DH.