Methods: Using a self-administered questionnaire, data were collected on dental pain experience in the past 12 months (present pain, pain within past 12 months, pain lasted for three months) in a sample of 21039 (9418 were male) 15- to 64-year-old adults. Data were from a large population-based cross-sectional survey conducted in the city of Tehran, using the Urban Health Equity Assessment and Response Tool (Urban-HEART) 2011. Chi-square tests analysis was used to assess the associations between dental pain experience and self-perceived oral health.
Results: The questionnaire was completed by 21039 individuals between 15 and 64 years old with a mean age of 39 (SD=13.02 - Range= 49). The response rate was 95%. 19% of adults reported having dental pain at the present, 14% reported having dental pain in the past 12 months and 5% reported having dental pain that lasted for 3 months. Females had pain more than males (P<0.001). Self-reported oral health presented poor and very poor by most of the subjects.
Conclusions: Findings indicated that age, education, poor and very poor self-perceived oral health were related to dental pain in this group.