Abstract
BackgroundDental caries is one of the most preventable oral diseases among children in developing countries. This study aims to estimate the prevalence and severity of dental caries in the first permanent molar and analyze the related risk factors among sixth-grade students in São Tomé Island.MethodsA cross-sectional study with a stratified cluster sampling method was conducted on 1855 sixth-grade school children, mainly aged 11 to 14 years old, from 10 schools in 6 regions of São Tomé Island, from April 17 to June 27, 2021. Dental caries examination was performed by using the CAST criteria (DMFT) index, and the self-administered questionnaires about family background, oral hygiene, and relevant behaviors were collected. Multivariable logistic regression was used to study risk factors related to dental caries of the first permanent molar, and all data analyses were done using SPSS version 25.ResultsThe prevalence of dental caries in the first permanent molar was 68.79%, without significant difference between gender, age, residence, and whether only child or not. The mean Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index and mean Decayed, Missing, and Filled Surface (DMFS) index were 1.751 ± 1.514 and 3.542 ± 3.941, respectively. The rate of filling teeth was 5.50%, and Pit and Fissure Sealant (PFS) rate was 2.21%. The overall prevalence and DMFT index of dental caries of permanent teeth was 76.01% and 2.753 ± 4.569, respectively. The results of logistic regression analysis indicated that the frequency of candy/chocolate consumption (OR = 1.095) and fair self-assessment of dental health (OR = 1.354) were significantly associated with dental caries (P < 0.05).ConclusionsThe high prevalence of dental caries in the first permanent molar was a public health issue among sixth-grade school children in São Tomé Island. The prevalence of dental caries, mean DMFT and DMFS scores were higher, while the rate of filling and PFS teeth were lower than the average score of other African countries. Thus, oral health education, implement oral health preaching to school children and their parents is crucial to prevent dental caries.
Highlights
Dental caries is one of the most preventable oral diseases among children in developing countries
The prevalence of dental caries of first permanent molar was higher in the urban group (73.11%) than in the rural group (68.94%) as well as in the other groups (69.51%), without significant difference
The rate of caries in the first permanent molar was higher in non-single children (69.34%) than in single children (61.76%), but the difference was not statistically significant (Table 3)
Summary
Dental caries is one of the most preventable oral diseases among children in developing countries. Dental caries is one of the most preventable chronic and cumulative diseases, which affects 60–90% of schoolchildren as well as many adolescents and adults worldwide [1, 2]. Dental caries is a chronic bacterial infectious disease destructing the tooth’s hard tissues by acids produced by a complex interaction, whose main factors are host susceptibility, bacteria, diet, and duration. Due to the increase in sugary consumption, poor oral hygiene practices, lack of dental health policies, insufficient preventive measures, and inappropriate or unavailable dental health services, the incidence of dental caries is rapidly growing in most developing countries among children and adults [14]
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