Association between Sense of Coherence and Caries Activity and Caries Experience among Male Adolescents from Southern Brazil: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> This cross-sectional study assessed the association between sense of coherence (SoC) and caries activity (number of active caries lesions) and caries experience (DMFT index) among 18–19-year-old male adolescents who joined the Brazilian Army as draftees for mandatory military service (<i>n</i> = 507). <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Data collection included a questionnaire (level of education, family income, and tooth brushing frequency), the Brazilian short version of the SoC scale (SOC-13), and clinical caries examination (noncavitated/cavitated, inactive/active). The main predictor variable was SoC, categorized as low, moderate, or high. Poisson regression models were used for statistical analysis. <b><i>Results:</i></b> A high SoC was significantly associated with a lower number of active lesions (adjusted rate ratio = 0.85; 95% CI = 0.74–0.98). No association between SoC and DMFT was detected. Conclusion: A high SoC was found to be a protective factor to caries activity in this population.