Oral health evolution in Brazilian adolescents: comparative analysis of SB Brasil Surveys 2003, 2010 and 2023.

Oral and dental health is one of the important factors that contribute to general health. It is necessary to monitor the DMFT index (decayed, missing and filled teeth) regularly to examine the state of oral health and monitor dental health interventions by formulating policies and programmes related to this field. The main question of this study was, what are the most important factors related to the DMFT index? Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the DMFT index and some relevant factors in adolescents. The present cross-sectional study was conducted in 2020, and 1105 students aged 12-18 years (a representative sample of the province) were selected from three big cities (Yasuj, Gachsaran and Dehdasht) of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province in the Southern region of Iran using stratified random sampling. Dental health status was evaluated by a dentist using the DMFT index. The participants' anxiety levels were also measured using the Beck Anxiety Inventory. The collected data were analysed using SPSS25, independent t-tests, analysis of variance and the neural network. The mean ± standard deviation of the participant's age was 15.93 ± 1.81 years (range 12-18). A total of 560 (50.70%) of the participants were female and 545 (49.30%) were male. The mean ± standard deviations of decayed, missing and filled teeth were 1.77 ± 1.84, 0.62 ± 1.20 and 1.24 ± 1.68, respectively. The mean and standard deviation of the DMFT index were 3.64 and 3.05 respectively. The DMFT index was significantly higher in adolescents who used sugary snacks, in students with high anxiety and students who smoked (p < 0.01). In addition, the DMFT index was significantly lower in people who brushed twice or more a day, people who used mouthwash and people who had a history of fluoride varnish and fissure sealant (p < 0.01). The DMFT mean ± standard deviation of males and females were 3.74 ± 2.98 and 3.53 ± 3.12, respectively. The DMFT mean was not significantly associated with participants' gender (p > 0.05). There was a direct and significant correlation between the mean age and the DMFT index (p < 0.01). According to the neural network analysis, the most important factors related to DMFT were tooth brushing, smoking, fissure sealants, anxiety, sugary snacks and fluoride varnish therapy, respectively. The mean DMFT index was 3.64. Tooth brushing, smoking, fissure sealants, anxiety, sugary snack and fluoride varnish therapy should be considered. Therefore, it is necessary to implement programmes to improve oral health in adolescents, such as daily teeth brushing, not smoking, performing fissure sealants and fluoride varnish at a younger age, and teaching anxiety coping skills.

To analyse the caries experience in preschool children at two moments 10 years apart. Two cross-sectional epidemiological studies, the first in 2006 (n = 275) and the second in 2016 (n = 258), were carried out with samples composed of children from 3 to 6 years of age. All children were enrolled in the municipal schools of basic education of a municipality in northwest São Paulo state, and they attended an annual and continuous oral health education programme. Caries experience was calculated for deciduous and permanent teeth using the dmft and DMFT indices, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Statistical analysis was performed using Epi info 7.1 and Bioestat 5.0 software. In 2006, the mean dmft index was 1.88, with 7.59% of teeth having caries experience. In 2016, the mean dmft index was 0.99, with 5.15% of teeth showing caries experience. In contrast, in 2006, the mean DMFT index was 0.08 (n = 509), with 4.1% of teeth with caries experience; in 2016, the mean DMFT index was 0.06 (n = 381) and 3.6% of teeth showed caries experience. The proportions of teeth with caries experience differed statistically significantly (p = 0.435). In the last study, 78.2% of the children were caries free, below the WHO target for 2020. The Significant Caries Index (SiC Index) was 0.2. A decline of caries experience in the deciduous dentition was found in the study population.

Objectives: Adolescence is a time during which health behaviors and attitudes that significantly affect the quality of life are formed. The aim of this study was to analyze data from a large national survey to determine the effect of health behaviors and the DMFT index as well as oral and general health behavior patterns on oral health in adolescents. Methods: Data from the Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used to analyze the association between health behaviors and the DMFT index in Korean adolescents. The data were analyzed using SAS version 19.3. Multiple regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between the variables, and 95% confidence intervals were computed. Results: Sex, age, private medical insurance coverage, usage of oral-hygiene-assistance products, lack of dental treatment, and the status of self-recognition of oral health were the factors that had a significant influence on oral health among adolescents. Conclusions: The study findings provided further evidence supporting the promotion of school-based oral health programs and highlighting the need of oral health education for adolescents.

Objectives : The aim of the study is to investigate the oral health knowledge, attitude and dental caries experience in Korean 12-year-old adolescents. Methods : The subjects were 2,196 adolescents living in Seosan, with an average age of 12.2 years. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire from April 10 through June 10, 2011. A trained investigator made an oral examination of them in natural light, using a mirror and an explorer to determine their DMFT index. Results : The prevalence rate of dental caries of adolescents was 59.1%. The DMFT index of the subjects was 1.98, which was lower than the national mean of 2.2 for the same age. The DMFT index was significantly higher in the female(2.25) than the male group(1.72). The attitude of oral health was positively related to DMFT index in this study(OR=1.25; CI=1.01-1.54). It appears that knowledge and attitude concerning oral health, among young Korean 12-year-old adolescents living in Seosan, are in need of improvement. Conclusions : Based on the findings, dental caries experience is associated with attitude of oral health. This result suggests that the implementation of oral health promotion should be considered for various factors related to attitude of oral health in adolescents.

BackgroundLittle information exists about the experience of and risk factors for dental caries in young adults in Russia. We investigated dental caries experience and determinants in medical and dental students in North-West Russia.MethodsThis cross-sectional study included 442 medical and 309 dental undergraduate students of Russian nationality aged 18–25 years from the Northern State Medical University, Arkhangelsk, Russia. Information on socio-demographic factors and oral health behaviour (regularity of dental visits, frequency of tooth-brushing, using toothpaste with fluoride, and skipping tooth-brushing) was obtained from a structured, self-administered questionnaire. Dental caries experience was based on the decayed (D) missing (M) filled (F) teeth (T) index and the Significant Caries (SiC) index, which were assessed through dental examination. Students with a DMFT index ≥9 were placed in the SiC group. Negative binomial hurdle and multivariable binary logistic regressions were used for statistical analyses.ResultsThe prevalence of dental caries (DMFT >0) was 96.0%, overall mean DMFT index was 7.58 (DT: 0.61, MT: 0.12, and FT: 6.84), and the corresponding SiC index was 12.50. Age 21–25 years (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 1.09, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01–1.18), being a female (IRR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.01–1.20), high subjective socioeconomic status (SES) [IRR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.02–1.21], and skipping tooth-brushing (IRR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.00–1.19) were associated with a higher DMFT index. DMFT index also increased among students who reported regular dental visits (IRR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.10–1.36), but their odds of being in the dental caries-free group decreased (odds ratio [OR] = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.18–0.82). Significant predictors of being categorised to the SiC group were older age (OR = 1.41, 95% CI: 1.03–1.92), high subjective SES (OR = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.13–2.19), and regular dental visits (OR = 2.34, 95% CI: 1.56–3.51).ConclusionsA high prevalence of dental caries and high DMFT index, with a dominance of FT, were observed in our Russian medical and dental students. Age, sex, subjective SES, regular dental visits, and skipping tooth-brushing were determinants of dental caries experience.

ABSTRACTObjectivesTo assess the associations between periodontal conditions, dental caries, sex, psychosocial factors, socioeconomic status, oral health‐related quality of life (OHRQoL), and self‐rated oral health among adolescents living in socially deprived neighbourhoods.MethodsA school‐based survey was conducted in a random sample of 406 12‐year‐old adolescents in 11 neighbourhoods in the East region of Manaus, Brazil. Gingival status, dental calculus (Community Periodontal Index), and dental caries (DMFT index) were registered through clinical examinations. Adolescents self‐completed questionnaires to assess psychosocial factors (self‐esteem, sense of coherence, and oral health beliefs), socioeconomic status (family income, parent's schooling, number of goods, and house crowding), oral health‐related quality of life (OHRQoL) (CPQ11–14), and self‐rated oral health. Direct and indirect relationships between variables were tested using structural equation modelling guided by the Wilson and Cleary model.ResultsGreater gingival bleeding was directly associated with worse self‐rated oral health. Poor OHRQoL was directly linked to the number of teeth with dental calculus, more teeth with dental caries experience, and worse psychosocial factors. Worse socioeconomic status and dental calculus were associated with gingival bleeding. Dental calculus and socioeconomic status were indirectly associated with self‐rated oral health via gingival status. OHRQoL mediated the association of dental caries experience and psychosocial factors with self‐rated oral health.ConclusionsGingival bleeding and dental calculus may negatively affect self‐reported oral health in adolescents. Socioeconomic status and psychosocial factors were also relevant determinants for oral health in this age group.

Aim: to assess prevalence and severity of dental caries (DMFT for permanent dentition and dmft for primary dentition) among Libyan children. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study including a random sample of 372 children was conducted in Benghazi. Experience of dental caries was assessed by decayed, missing, and filled teeth DMFT and dmft indices using WHO criteria of diagnosing dental caries. The data were entered and managed by using SPSS software version 25. Descriptive analysis of the data including frequencies, percentages and means of school-children's decayed, missing and filled components was performed. Results: Overall dental caries prevalence was 86.6%. The mean DMFT and dmft indices were 0.86 and 2.78 for all 372 subjects amongst which major contributor was decayed component. Considering only subjects with caries experience (322), mean DMFT and dmft indices were 1.00 and 3.21, respectively. Higher prevalence of dmft scores was observed than DMFT scores in all subjects and in subjects with caries experience. For all subjects DMFT, the Decay index was 89.5%, Missing index was 3.5% and Care index was 6.7%. For all subjects dmft, the Decay index was 89.9%, Missing index was 7.9% and Care index was 2.1%. Conclusions: Caries prevalence was high considering the World Health Organization future oral health goals. Although the prevalence in the study sample is high, Care index is unacceptably low. The findings stress on the need to treat the children at the initial stages of caries development with preventive approaches. Providing and implementing preventive and educational programs for controlling dental caries are necessary.

BackgroundOral health is part of general health, and in adolescence, it represents a good individual health indicator. Three country-based oral health epidemiological studies have been developed in Brazil (1986, 2003 and 2010). The objective of this study was to analyze oral disease trends among Brazilian adolescents and to compare these trends to the World Health Organization’s goals with a focus on public health policies implemented between 1986 and 2010.MethodsThis is an epidemiological observational study performed with secondary data from Brazilian Oral Health surveys (1986, 2003 and 2010). The DMFT (number of decayed, missing and filled teeth) index was used for the 12-year-old and 15- to 19-year-old groups, and periodontal disease (CPI) and the percentage of individuals who needed and/or had prostheses were evaluated in the 15- to 19-year-old group.ResultsBetween 1986 and 2010, DMFT decreased from 6.65 to 2.07 (68.9 % reduction) in the 12-year-old group and from 12.68 to 4.25 (66.5 % reduction) in the 15- to 19-year-old group. In all groups, the missing component had the strongest decrease. Adolescents had a reduction of 20.3 % in access to dental care. In 2003, in the 15- to 19-year-old group, 89.5 % of teenagers had at least one decayed tooth, while in 2010, the value was 76.1 %. In 2010, the percentage of adolescents without gingival problems varied among different regions of Brazil, with 30.8 % in the North and 56.8 % in the Southeast. Regarding DMFT, the difference between the North and Southeast Regions was 84 %.ConclusionsImprovement trends regarding adolescent oral health were observed, which seem to be supported by health education and promotion activities along with the reorganization of the Brazilian health system.

Investigations into the oral health status of indigenous populations are scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate caries experience and associated factors among 342 indigenous children and adolescents aged 5-15 years of the Xukuru community in the municipality of Pesqueira, Brazil. A cross-sectional census study was carried out using the criteria of the World Health Organization to determine caries experience. Examinations were performed by two calibrated dentists and a questionnaire was administered to parents/caregivers addressing socio-demographic data, diet and oral hygiene habits. Logistic regression analysis were performed, with dmft and DMFT as the dependent variables (P < 0.05). Caries experience (dmft/DMFT) was high in both the primary and permanent dentition (75.6% and 62.9%, respectively). Mean dmft and DMFT indices were 3.11 and 2.21, respectively. Caries experience in the primary dentition was associated with children residing in villages far from urban areas (P = 0.016), while caries in the permanent dentition was associated with older children (P < 0.001) and with children from villages at an intermediate distance and far from urban areas (P < 0.001). The indigenous subjects exhibited a high degree of caries experience, which was associated with age and group of villages. Public policies are needed to improve the oral health status of this population.

To associate attitudes and behaviors related to oral health with the experience of dental caries in trainees of the Paraguayan Air Force's Airborne Brigade in the year 2023. The design was cross-sectional. The sample comprised 100 soldiers. The Hiroshima University Dental Behavior Inventory (HU-DBI) was applied to measure attitudes and behaviors related to oral health, and the experience of caries was assessed using the DMFT index. The Pearson Chi-square test was used to compare the distribution of HU-DBI and DMFT according to background, and Fisher's exact test was applied to associate the experience of caries with attitudes and behaviors at a 95% confidence level. : Regarding the assessment of attitudes and behaviors, the average score was 6.33 (SD=1.97), classified as "fair," with a minimum score of 2 and a maximum of 11. The DMFT index was 5.45 (SD=3.9). A homogeneous distribution was found between attitudes and behaviors (p=0.197), and there was no association between caries experience and background (p=0.615). No association was found between caries experience and attitudes and behaviors (p=0.577). The attitudes and behaviors regarding oral health were fair, and the experience of dental caries measured by the DMFT index was low. No association was found between the two variables.

The aim of this study was to investigate the correlations between epidemiological indices (objective) and self-perceived oral health (subjective) in adolescents at school level, and to study gender differences in epidemiological indices and in self-perceived oral health. The study comprised two sets of data from Skaraborg County, Sweden: 1. Self-reported questionnaires answered by adolescents at all senior level schools (n = 9,559, 13-15 years). 2. Epidemiological indices based on clinical registrations of oral health in 13-15-year-old adolescents were collected in all 17 municipalities (n = 7,899). Simple and partial Pearson correlation coefficients were used to study correlations between subjective and objective oral health in the adolescents at school level. Gender differences in adolescents' subjective and objective oral health were estimated using a logistic regression model. The correlations between epidemiological index registrations and self-perceived oral health were weak. The strongest correlations were found between epidemiological indices and self-perceived gingival bleeding: 0.416 between the DS (decayed surfaces) index and self-perceived bleeding. Girls were less likely to be satisfied with the appearance of their teeth than boys were in municipalities with clinical good oral health OR 0.76 (95% CI 0.59-0.98) and with poor clinical oral health OR 0.74 (CI 0.57-0.94). No gender differences were found in the epidemiological index registrations. The currently used epidemiological indices did not reflect adolescents' own perceptions of their oral health at school level and they could not recognize or identify gender differences. Surveillance of oral health in young people should include information on self-perceived oral health.

The objective of this study is to investigate the main social, psychosocial and clinical factors associated with poor self-rated oral health in adolescents. A cross-sectional survey was carried out in two cities of the Distrito Federal, Brazil. Data were collected by clinical examinations and by self-administered questionnaires from 1302 adolescents aged 14- 15 years in 39 schools. Data analysis was carried out using a Poisson regression model taking into account the cluster sample. Adjusting for social, psychosocial and clinical factors, results showed that poor self-rated oral health was significantly associated (P < 0.001) with sex (males) [prevalence ratio (PR) = 0.8, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 0.7-0.9]; low social class (PR =1.4, 95% CI: 1.2-1.6); poor self-rated general health (PR = 2.6, 95% CI: 2.3-3.1); mouth appearance (PR = 1.9, 95% CI: 1.6-2.2) and with presence of untreated dental decay (PR = 1.4, 95% CI: 1.3-1.6). The single question on self-rated oral health appears to be a simple and easy way to collect dental health information in adolescents. Assessment and understanding of self-rated oral health should take into account social, psychosocial and oral factors.

This study analyzed the association between sedentary behavior (SB), unhealthy food consumption, and dental caries amongst 12-year-old schoolchildren. An epidemiological survey was carried out in the five largest cities (> 80,000 inhabitants) of the State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Data were collected on decayed, missing and filled teeth index (DMFT), sociodemographic characteristics, SB, unhealthy food consumption, and water fluoridation status. The analysis was based on the theoretical framework established by J Sisson. Structural equation models were performed to test the association of dental caries experience with sociodemographic, contextual, and behavioral factors. The mean DMFT index in the five cities was 1.02 (95%CI: 0.39-1.66). Higher sedentary behavior (more than 2 hours/day) [standardized coefficient (SC) = 0.21 95%CI: 0.07-0.39] and higher unhealthy food consumption (more than 4 times/week) [SC = 0.23 (0.10-0.45)] were associated with higher DMFT index than their counterparts. Also, cities with fluoridated water were associated with lower DMFT index [SC = -0.85 (-1.20--0.50)]. Families who had a per capita income above the poverty line had a direct association with unhealthy food consumption [SC = -0.24 (-0.38--0.11)]. Unhealthy food consumption mediated the association of sedentary behavior on DMFT index [SC=0.07 (0.02-0.13)]. Sensitivity analysis confirmed the findings. Sedentary behavior mediated by unhealthy food consumption had a significant association with dental caries experience. Public policies must address transdisciplinary actions to reduce sedentary behavior and unhealthy food consumption and promote water fluoridation.

Introduction: Adolescents have a high risk of developing caries in Portugal. The present study is designed to assess dental caries experience among the adolescents by the application of DMFT index, characterize the oral health risk factors and to determine the association between caries experience and socio-demographic variables. The characterization of the oral health behaviors of adolescents of the central region of Portugal will help in the development of specific oral health education strategies to improve oral health among the local communities. Material and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among a convenient sample of 694 adolescents aged 12 to 18 years attending public schools in two Portuguese districts using a structured questionnaire designed to investigate oral health and behavior of participants. In addition, a clinical examination was carried out noting the decayed, missing and filled teeth. A descriptive analysis of the variables was performed using the Chi-square, Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests (p&lt;0.05). A multivariate analysis was applied for analysis of the association between variables. Results: The mean DMFT index score of 2.91±2.9 was obtained. Of the total sample, 73% consumed sugary food daily, 50.1% considered having good oral health and 70.8% did not report pain in the last 12 months. Most adolescents (79.4%) brushed their teeth daily and 60% did not use dental floss. Of the total sample, 96.4% had a dental appointment in the last 12 months, 46.4% of which was for preventive purposes. Applying the Chi-square statistical test, we verified that the adolescents who brush their teeth daily presented a good perception about their oral health (p&lt;0.001), the DMFT index scores were associated with the residence area (p=0.01) and the presence of dental caries was associated with the perception of oral health (p=0.049) and sugary food intake (p=0.029).Conclusion: Portuguese adolescents presented a low DMFT index. The DMFT index was associated with residence area, perception of oral health and sugary food intake. Daily toothbrushing was associated with self-perception of oral health. It is suggested that oral health promotion and prevention programs should aim to reduce the risks of oral disease development.

The main goal of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of caries in children that participate in a dental program attending mothers and children in Teresina, Piauí, Brazil. A selection was made of 343 children of both genders, from 3 to 6 years of age. The mothers answered questionnaires and children were examined at the Infant Dental Clinic of the Federal University of Piauí. The epidemiological index dmft was applied and active white spot lesions were included. The SPSS for Windows program, version 11.1 was used and non-parametric tests carried out (Friedman and Kruskal-Wallis). An alpha error of 5% (0.05) was considered for the null hypothesis of false rejection, with a confidence interval of 95%. The results showed that 57.5% (197) of the children were breast-fed for a period longer than 12 months. The mean dmft index and percentages of caries-free children at the age of 3 was 1.86 (58.82%); at 4 years of age 1.94 (57.60%); at 5 years of age 1.98 (56.86%) and at 6 years of age 2.42 (42.55%). The decay component (d) was prevalent at all ages. When active white spot lesions were added to the dmft index, there was an increase of 7.2% for children who had caries activity and/or previous caries experience and 2.61% for those with dmft equal to zero. The daily consumption of fermentable carbohydrates and free demand breast-feeding were factors increasing caries activity. Dental follow-up after the program and the number of daily brushings were shown to be factors providing protection against caries . Based on the results, the authors were able to conclude that the program caused a positive impact on caries disease control, as the number of dental appointments kept influenced the dmft index values in a statistically significant manner.