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Introduction Dental pain significantly impacts child9s life. This study explores the determinants of lifetime dental pain (LDP) among children. Methods Data from a follow-up of two birth cohorts in Brazil was used: Ribeirao Preto (RP) with one of highest Human Development Index (HDI) in the country and Sao Luiz (SL) one of the lowest. Follow-up data (1/3 of original cohort) was collected in 2004/5 when children from RP were 10/11 years old (n=790), and children from SL were 7/8 years old (n=673). Prevalence Ratios (PR) were calculated and multivariable analyzes was performed hierarchical modelling. Covariates were mother education, age, marital status, sex, skin colour, number of siblings and number of household members, mother9s perception of child oral health, dental visit, and private dental insurance. Results LDP prevalence in RP was 32.7%, while in SL was 56.4%. Common variables in the final model for the two cities were sex, mother9s education, mother9s perception of child oral health. For RP private health insurance (PR 0.67; 95% CI 0.46 to 0.95) and marital status (PR 1.10; 95% CI 0.87 to 1.40) were also included in the model. For SL visiting dentist in the past 2 years was positively associated with LDP (PR: 1.22 95% CI 1.07 to 1.39) as well as the number of household members with children in families with more then five members showing PR 1.36 (95% CI 1.03 to 1.79). Conclusion The prevalence of LDP in both cohorts was relatively high and specially associated with family structure and socioeconomic position.

Introduction In Brazil about 55% of 6-yrs-old children, even in the highest socioeconomic levels, had never been to a dentist. The aim of this study was to investigate factors associated with the delay in the first dental visit (DDV). Methods We used data from the follow-up (2004) of the birth cohort study of Ribeirao Preto (1994), including 1/3 of the original sample (n=790). DDV was defined as the age at the first dental visit after 6 yrs-old. Covariates used were maternal age, education and skin colour, marital status, number of siblings and household members and health insurance. Bivariate and stratified analysis was followed by a logistic regression with hierarchical modelling. Results Overall, 55.5% had not been to a dentist by the age of 6. The final model showed that DFV was negatively associated with private health insurance (OR 0.67; 95% CI 0.46 to 0.97) and with mother9s education. Compared to mothers with university degrees the OR for those with 20 compared to £ 20 yrs-old) 1.77 (95% CI 1.1 to 2.83) and with the n umber of household members (>4 compared with Conclusions Considering the universal system studies are necessary to understand the barriers mothers with low educational level to take their children to the dentist. Grant Fapesp 00/09508-7.