Adverse oral conditions associated with worse emotional and social well-being of Brazilian teenagers: a population-based study in a deprived rural-urban boundary

Abstract Background The relationship between dental appearance and emotional/social well-being in underprivileged areas undergoing rapid urbanization is unknown. Objective To assess if the emotional and social well-being of teenagers living in urban areas might be more affected by unfavorable dental appearance determined by oral conditions. Method A population-based cross-sectional exploratory study with 12-year-old Brazilian schoolchildren was carried out in two poor, underserviced districts of Sao Paulo City, Brazil. Outcome was severity of oral health-related quality of life (QHRQoL) due to the emotional and social well-being and exposures were oral conditions and residence district (rural or urban). Results The impact on severity of QHRQoL due to emotional well-being and due to social well-being, respectively, were 14% and 16% higher for those presenting at least one untreated decayed tooth; 36% and 54% higher for those with unfavorable dental appearance and 25% and 39% higher for those from the urban district. No association between malocclusion and district was observed. Conclusion Despite higher prevalence of untreated dental caries in the rural district, teenagers from the urban district felt that their OHRQoL, adjusted by oral conditions investigated, was more negatively affected. This suggests that urban environmental influences can lead to stressful social pressures stemming from dental appearance, leading to diminished emotional and social well-being.