Dental caries and associated factors in preschoolers in a small city

Abstract

Objective: this study seeks to understand the predominance and factors associated with dental caries in preschoolers. Material and Methods: it is a census, epidemiological study with an analytic and cross-sectional sample, including children from 4 to 6 years old, matriculated in public preschools in the city of Aiquara-BA. The sociodemographic data was obtained through home interviews with the parents/guardian of the child, while the dental condition data was obtained via a clinical examination of the mouth cavity of the preschoolers. The dfmt index was used to evaluate the dental condition of the children, with the codes and criteria used being those proposed by the World Health Organization. The data was tabulated in duplicate on a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and following correction, was analyzed using the SPSS, STATA and PAST programs. Poisson regression analysis and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) were performed. Results: 148 children were evaluated of whom 79 (53.4%) were boys and 40 (27%), 39 (26.4%) and 69 (46.6%) were 4, 5, and 6 years old, respectively. The prevalence of dental caries disease in children of 4, 5 and 6 years old was 60, 64 and 70%, with a prevalence of 70% in boys and 61% in girls. Conclusion: associated factors were maternal marital status, low education level of parents, low birth weight and occlusions issues. In preschools in Aiquara-BA, the prevalence of dental caries disease is elevated, showing the need for more effective educational, preventive and curative measures in relation to mouth hygiene