Resumo

RAICHERT, Caroline et al. Dental caries and presence of visible plaque on anterior teeth on 0 to 5 years old children. Rev. Assoc. Paul. Cir. Dent. [online]. 2016, vol.70, n.1, pp. 38-43. ISSN 0004-5276.

Objective: To identify the association between dental caries and plaque in the different stages of the early childhood. Materials and Methods: 183 children 8-69 months of age from two Municipal Centers of Children Education, in Curitiba, were clinically examined for caries and visible plaque. Children were divided in two groups according to the different stages of the early childhood, G1 (up to 36 months), G2 (37 to 69 months). Caries experience (ceo-d>0) and visible plaque on at least one upper incisor were evaluated by one previously calibrated examiner (kappa>0,80). Mothers were invited to answer a questionnaire about socioeconomic aspects, dental hygiene and feeding habits. Data were submitted to bivariate analysis using Pearson´s chi-square and Fisher´s exact tests. Results:G1 showed a tendency of association between caries experience and visible plaque (p=0,053), while in G2 a significant association was found (p=0,006).Association was found in G1 between dental hygiene after feeding during the night and visible plaque (p=0,026), and between mother´s marital status and visible plaque on G2 (p=0,043). Conclusion: The association between dental caries and visible plaque on anterior teeth becomes more evident on the late stages of early childhood.

Palavras-chave : dental plaque; dental caries; pediatric dentistry..