Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective To assess oral hygiene habits, and prevalence of dental caries and erosion in adolescents of Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil. Methods Cross-sectional study with random cluster sampling involving 201 15-year-old schoolchildren. Oral health habits were obtained through questionnaire, and socioeconomic data, by means of interviews. The DMFT index was adopted to determine the prevalence of caries and that proposed by O’Sullivan, to assess dental erosion. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 18. A 5% significance level was adopted. Results All subjects reported using toothbrush and toothpaste, 50.7% reported dental flossing, and association was found between sex and use of mouthwash (p <0.05). Regarding dental caries, the mean DMFT was 3.67 and 51.7% had DMFT lower than or equal to 3. For dental erosion, 18.4% of the sample had erosive lesions, predominantly enamel lesions (92%). Conclusion The use of dental floss was low and adolescents revealed unsatisfactory index. The DMF-T value was moderate and lower than that reported for the Brazilian age group. The prevalence of dental erosion was high, with predominance of enamel lesions.

Highlights

  • Factors considered extra-biological, such as economic level, behaviors and self-care have been pointed out as being factors that lead to increasing prevalence of oral pathologies in adolescents[1]

  • All subjects reported using toothbrush and toothpaste, 50.7% reported dental flossing, and association was found between sex and use of mouthwash (p

  • The DMF-T value was moderate and lower than that reported for the Brazilian age group

Read more

Summary

Introduction

Factors considered extra-biological, such as economic level, behaviors and self-care have been pointed out as being factors that lead to increasing prevalence of oral pathologies in adolescents[1]. Studies began to be directed towards other areas to monitor the trends in the population related to oral health diseases, among them, the growing prevalence of dental erosion in children and adolescents, with the main consequence of wear on the tooth surface[4,5]. This is of idiopathic origin or is caused by a known source of acid[6], with individual factors and lifestyle having great relevance in its development[7]. In view of the foregoing, the aim of this study was to evaluate the oral hygiene habits and the prevalence of dental caries and erosion in adolescents

Methods
Results
Discussion
Conclusion

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.