Abstract
Abstract Background Although a trend towards dental caries reduction has been observed, further investigations on its pattern and development are still needed. Objective To investigate the influence of clinical, social and environmental variables on dental caries prevalence in adolescents from a Brazilian municipality supplied with fluoridated water in 2018. Method This study was conducted with a non-probabilistic sample of 277 adolescents aged 12 years of public schools in Nova Friburgo, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Clinical examinations were carried out by calibrated examiners to assess caries, periodontal disease, and fluorosis according to criteria of the World Health Organization (WHO). Semi-structured questionnaires were applied to record socio-environmental information. Results Individuals living in regions supplied with fluoridated water below the minimum required levels (OR=3.60, p=0.0006), with low income (OR=1.90, p=0.0444), presence of gingivitis (OR=3.36; p=0.0016), and whose reason for visiting the dentist was dental treatment (OR=2.41; p=0.0203) were more likely to have dental caries. A significant reduction (p<0.0001) in dental caries indexes was observed between 2012 and 2018. Conclusion Fluoridation of public water supply at unsuitable levels, as well as other social and clinical variables can influence the caries pattern in adolescents.
Highlights
Published scientific investigations show that there is general acceptance that tooth decay has been considerably modified over the past two decades, especially in the young groups, mainly due to access to fluoride toothpastes and fluoridation of public water supplies[1,2,3].dental caries is still considered an important public health problem in both‐industrialized and developing countries[4,5,6]
The evaluation of socioeconomic determinants has frequently been addressed in oral health studies conducted with adolescents, especially dental caries, since it allows a description of the situation of this population in relation to their living conditions, making it possible to establish a direct relationship with the prevalence of this condition[6,7,8,9]
The influence of intermediate social determinants, such as those related to environmental conditions, e.g., domiciles/peridomiciles, workplaces, and factors that lead to inequalities in the access to services and oral health promotion programs and preventive measures, such as fluoridation of public water supplies, could be ways to explain the contemporary picture of oral health inequalities in different localities and age groups
Summary
Published scientific investigations show that there is general acceptance that tooth decay has been considerably modified over the past two decades, especially in the young groups, mainly due to access to fluoride toothpastes and fluoridation of public water supplies[1,2,3].dental caries is still considered an important public health problem in both‐industrialized and developing countries[4,5,6]. The influence of intermediate social determinants, such as those related to environmental conditions, e.g., domiciles/peridomiciles, workplaces, and factors that lead to inequalities in the access to services and oral health promotion programs and preventive measures, such as fluoridation of public water supplies, could be ways to explain the contemporary picture of oral health inequalities in different localities and age groups. Epidemiological studies have shown that fluoridated water supply and oral health promotion programs in schools have been considered resources to protect children and adolescents from the development of caries[11,12,13]. Objective: To investigate the influence of clinical, social and environmental variables on dental caries prevalence in adolescents from a Brazilian municipality supplied with fluoridated water in 2018. Conclusion: Fluoridation of public water supply at unsuitable levels, as well as other social and clinical variables can influence the caries pattern in adolescents
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