Caries Prevalence in Schoolchildren of the Rural Zone of Jacinto Machado, SC, Brazil

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of dental caries, treatment needs and associated factors in schoolchildren aged 7 to 14 years living in the rural zone of the city of Jacinto Machado, SC, Brazil. Method: This was a transversal study involving all 402 children regularly attending public schools. The children were examined according to the WHO criteria. Additionally, a questionnaire arguing about sociodemographic issues and access to services was submitted to the students. Data were collected by a dentist and a research auxiliary, previously trained and calibrated. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics. Chi square test and Fisher’s exact test were used for assessing the existence of association between the studied variables. Significance level was set at p<0.05. Logistic multiple regression analysis was performed for the endpoint prevalence of restored teeth. Results: Disease prevalence was 89.2% in the permanent dentition and 63.8% in the primary dentition. Mean DMF-T was 4.8, indicating a high caries severity according to the WHO criteria. Mean dmf-t was 3.5, characterizing a moderate severity. The most contributory component to the composition of the DMF-T index was “decayed” (71.2%), followed by “filled” (24.4%). In the primary dentition, the “decayed” component was the most contributory (79.4%), followed by “missing” (16.6%). Regarding the treatment needs, the restorative treatment presented the highest prevalence (76.8%), followed by extraction (17.3%). The multiple analysis showed that having received previous preventive instructions conferred 3.5 times more chances of presenting filled teeth compared to the lack of preventive information; having been treated at facilities others than the health stations conferred 2.9 times more chances; and being aged 11 to 14 years conferred 2.1 times more chances of having restored teeth, regardless of the other analyzed factors. Conclusion: There was a high prevalence and severity of dental caries in the studied population.