Prevalence of childhood dental caries and its association between mothers’ level of schooling and socioeconomic

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of dental caries and investigate its association with socioeconomic status of family and parents’s education among schoolchildren in Nova Roma do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul. Material and Methods: We evaluated 120 schoolchildren aged 7 to 10 years old belonging to two schools of this city to be evaluated for the DMFT index (dental caries) and early chilhood caries (ECC) by clinical examination. Socioeconomic data (years of education of the mothers and family income) were collected through a questionnaire that was completed by the mothers. Results: The prevalence rate of dental caries was 2,45%. The mean DMFT index was 0.41± 0.83, while the mean ECC was higher and equal to 2.94 ± 2.96. Both the DMFT index and ECC there were no statistically significant associated with socioeconomic indicators, since the rates found for DMFT were high. Conclusion: Results indicate that high prevalence rate was an independent factor of the maternal education and socioeconomic status of families.