Impact of untreated dental caries on oral health of adolescents from cities in the countryside of Rio Grande do Sul

Abstract

Introduction: Dental caries is a major public health problem around the world, because it can cause pain and suffering to individuals. Even with a decline in childhood disease in recent years, it is observed in many countries.
 Objective: The objective of this research is to analyze the mean of dental caries and the prevalence of untreated caries and associated factors in students from the southern region of Brazil.
 Methods: The approach of this study is quantitative, with a cross-sectional design. The research sample was composed of 77 adolescents from the state schools of the urban area of the municipalities of Ciríaco and David Canabarro, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. For the data collection, clinical exams were performed, using the DMFT index, and the application of two semistructured questionnaires to adolescents and their parents. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and inferential statistics to the Pearson chi-square test and ANOVA at a significance level of 5%.
 Results: The prevalence of untreated dental caries in the final sample was 40.3% and the DMFT index (decayed, missing and filled teeth) 2.32, there was no statistical difference between cities. There was a statistically significant relationship between the variable toothache in the last six months and the outcome of untreated caries (p = 0.012) with 76% of those who had pain. There was also an association between the variable perception of the treatment at the last visit and untreated caries (p = 0.021), with 84.6% of adolescents considering poor / regular treatment.
 Conclusion: Although the average dental caries has been low, many adolescents have decayed and untreated teeth, with toothache and lack of quality in dental treatment being the factors that most impacted.