en |
Trends in dental caries experience and fluorosis prevalence in 12-year-old Brazilian schoolchildren from two different towns
Benazzi, Aline Sampiere Tonello; da Silva, Renato Pereira; Meneghim, Marcelo de Castro; Pereira, Antonio Carlos & Ambrosano, Glaucia Maria Bovi
Abstract
Aim: To describe the prevalence of dental caries and fluorosis in schoolchildren from two different
towns in São Paulo State, Brazil, 2007 - town A (water fluoridation since 1971) and town B (water
fluoridation since 1997) - and to compare current prevalence rates with previous surveys, in
town A, for dental caries (1971-2005) and for dental fluorosis (1991-2001), and in town B, for
dental caries and dental fluorosis (1991-2004).
Methods: The sample consisted of 724
schoolchildren aged 12 years from public and private schools (town A) and 197 schoolchildren
from public schools (town B). The schoolchildren were examined under natural light by a dentist,
using CPI probes and oral mirrors. The mean number of decayed, missing and filled permanent
teeth (DMFT), and Significant Caries (SiC) Index were determined for dental caries and the
Thylstrup and Fejerskov index (T-F) for fluorosis.
Results: The DMFT was 0.85 and 1.02; SiC
index was 2.52 and 2.83 in towns A and B, respectively. Fluorosis prevalence was 29.4% (town
A) and 25.4% (town B). In both towns, a significant dental caries reduction has been observed.
Concerning fluorosis prevalence, an increase of 44.1% was noted in town A and 1170% in town
B.
Conclusions: Results show continuous decrease in dental caries experience in both towns.
Regarding fluorosis prevalence, stabilization trends were observed in town A. In town B, however,
a constant increase was noted.
Keywords
dental caries, fluorosis, DMF index, oral health, epidemiology
|