Factors related to self-perceived need for dental treatment in adolescents, adults, and elders in a city in Northeastern Brazil

* MSc, Pos-Graduate student, Department of Preventive and Operative Dentistry, North Paraná University, Londrina, PR, Brazil. ** Professor, Dental School, North Paraná University, Londrina, PR, Brazil. *** Professor, Dental School, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. **** Professor, Bauru Dental School, University of São Paulo, Bauru, SP, Brazil. ***** Professor, Dental School, State University of Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brazil. Objective: to identify factors related to self-perceived need for dental treatment in adolescents, adults, and elders in a small city in Northeastern Brazil. Methods: Data from a cross-sectional study with a sample of 139 individuals were assessed. Data collection included oral examinations and interviews concerning demographic and predisposing characteristics, and availability of financial resources. In a hierarchical model, Poisson regression analysis was used. Results: Out of the total sample, 85.5%, 84.5%, and 38.5% of the adolescents, adults, and elders, respectively, reported the need for dental treatment. The self-perception of this need was lower among elders who had not received information on how to avoid oral problems, and among the edentulous. On the other hand, it was higher amongst those who self-rated their oral health as fair/poor/very poor. Conclusions: These results highlight the importance of self-rated oral health and the access to preventive information on oral problems in modulating the individual concept of dental treatment need. Moreover, they point to the need for greater attention to the elderly group, mostly edentulous that showed lower perceived need.