Resumo

ALCANTARA, Thais Leite de et al. Factors associated with oral health of preschool children in educative-preventive program in Piracicaba/SP. RPG, Rev. pós-grad. [online]. 2011, vol.18, n.2, pp. 102-107. ISSN 0104-5695.

Objective: To determine which factors are associated with the occurrence of caries in preschool children. Methods: We examined 132 children from four months to six years in relation to caries experience (dmft), according WHO. Parents, at the time of authorization, completed a questionnaire to obtainment of demographic and socioeconomic data and of habits. Statistical analysis was considered as outcome caries (dmft > 0) and absence (dmft = 0). Besides the descriptive analysis, we used Poisson regression, crude and the adjusted, and included in the model variables with p < 0.25, adopting a p < 0,05% significance. Results: The mean dmft was 0.62 (± 1.62), with 81.7% caries-free. The gender - female - (PR 2.3, p = 0.02), schooling (PR 1.78, p = 0.05) and income (PR 1.17, p = 0.05) were associated with presence of dental caries in these preschool children, regardless of age. Conclusion: This study found that, beyond gender, socioeconomic factors were associated with caries experience in preschool children. Since dental caries in deciduous teeth is the strongest predictor of this disease in the permanent dentition, investments in oral health promotion in this age group is crucial, considering the risk factors associated with this condition.

Palavras-chave : Epidemiology; Dental caries; Child, Preschool; Oral health; Prevalence.