Dental caries and depression in pregnant women: The role of oral health self-perception as mediator

Objective: This study investigated the role of oral health self-perception as mediator of association between dental caries and depression among pregnant women from the 2015 Pelotas Birth Cohort Study, Brazil.

Materials and methods: Overall, 2,496 pregnant women participated of this oral health sub-study. Data related to demographic and socioeconomic conditions, lifetime and current depression, and oral health self-perception were collected. Participants were also assessed for dental caries (DMF-T index). Depression was assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. For analysis, six outcomes related to dental caries experience were considered. Causal mediation analysis was performed using parametric regression models.

Results: When it was assumed that all subjects had poor perception about oral health, it was observed that the presence of moderate/severe depressive signals and symptoms was higher in subjects with dental caries experience (OR 1.13; CI 95% 1.06-1.20), with severity of untreated dental caries (OR 2.08; CI 95% 1.16-3.78), untreated dental caries (OR 1.18; 95% CI 1.07-1.29), tooth loss (OR 1.08; 95% CI 1.02-1.14), and filled tooth (OR 1.07; 95% CI 1.02-1.16).

Conclusions: Our findings show the effect of dental caries on depression is mediated by self-perception about oral health in pregnant women.