Time Since the Last Dental Visit among Peruvian Children: Analysis of National Survey Data, 2019–2021

Abstract Objective: To assess the time since the last dental visit among Peruvian children under 12 years of age between 2019 and 2021 and to identify the associated sociodemographic and health-related factors. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted using secondary data from the Peruvian Demographic and Family Health Survey (ENDES) for 2019, 2020, and 2021. ENDES employs a nationally representative, stratified, two-stage sampling design. The analytical sample included 49,763 children with complete information. The outcome variable was time since the last dental visit (years), based on the ENDES methodology. Independent variables included survey year, place of dental care, geographic characteristics, wealth index, health insurance, age, and sex. Analyses accounted for the complex survey design. Descriptive, bivariate, and hierarchical multiple linear regression analyses were performed ( P < 0.05). Results: The mean time since the last dental visit was 5.25 years in 2019, 6.65 years in 2020, and 5.51 years in 2021 ( P = 0.021). In the adjusted model, survey year, place of dental care, natural region, area of residence, altitude, health insurance, and age were significantly associated with the outcome. Conclusion: Time since the last dental visit increased in 2020 and decreased in 2021, consistent with pandemic-related disruption in dental visit patterns and partial recovery. Sociodemographic, geographic, and health- related factors were significantly associated with time since the last dental visit.