Does early-life family income influence later dental pain experience? A prospective 14-year study

Abstract

Background

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between early-life family income and dental pain experience from childhood to early adulthood.

Methods

Data came from a 14-year prospective study (1991/92 – 2005/06) carried out in South Australia, which included children and adolescents aged 4–17 years (n = 9875) at baseline. The outcome was dental pain experience obtained at baseline, 14 years later in adulthood, and at a middle point of time. The main explanatory variable was early-life family income collected at baseline.

Results

The prevalence of dental pain was 22.8% at baseline, 19.3% at 'middle time', and 39.3% at follow-up. The proportion of people classified as 'poor' at baseline was 27.7%. Being poor early in life was significantly associated with dental pain at 14-year follow-up, Odds Ratio = 1.45 (95% CI = 1.27–1.66).

Conclusions

Early-life relative poverty is associated with more frequent dental pain across the 14-years follow up and may be a key exposure variable for later dental conditions.

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