| Summary: | Abstract This study aimed to investigate if sense of coherence (SOC) is associated with dental attendance (DA) patterns among Brazilian adolescent students. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the midwestern region of Brazil. A total of 2,905 adolescents aged 13 to 19 years from 14 public schools in 13 towns/cities in the state of Goiás were included in the study. Data on oral health-related behaviors and psychosocial factors were collected using self-administered questionnaires completed by students during regular school hours. The dependent variables were DA in the past year (yes/no) and the reason for DA (toothache/preventive check-up). SOC was assessed using the Antonovsky’s Orientation to Life questionnaire (SOC-13). Adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals were estimated using binary logistic regression. Results showed that 56.2% of the students had visited a dentist within the past year, most commonly for a preventive check-up (38.7%). SOC scores ranged from 13 to 91 (mean = 49.3; SD = 12.1). In the regression model adjusted for adolescents’ sociodemographic characteristics (age, sex, skin color or race, and maternal education), higher prevalence rates of DA in the past year (OR = 1.02; p < 0.001) and DA motivated by preventive check-ups (OR = 1.02; p < 0.001) were found among those with higher SOC scores. In conclusion, a significant association was found between higher SOC levels and healthier DA patterns among adolescents, regardless of socioeconomic characteristics.
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