Resumo

JUNIOR, Valdeci Elias dos Santos et al. The impact of a Brazilian social program on children's oral health. RFO UPF [online]. 2013, vol.18, n.1, pp. 61-66. ISSN 1413-4012.

Objective: this study evaluated the impact of the Bolsa Familia program on the prevalence of dental caries in children 4 to 8 years old who received this benefit from birth. Methods: one hundred and sixty-three children were examined according to the criteria of the World Health Organization for decayed, missing, and filled teeth. Results: it was verified that the prevalence of dental caries of children included in the program was 78.5% and the average index of decayed, extracted, and filled teeth (dmft) in primary dentition was 4.77, with predominance of decayed teeth, which represents 81.8% of this ratio. The DMFT index (decayed, missing, and filled teeth in permanent dentition) found was 0.56, indicating early disease in newly erupted permanent teeth. Conclusion: although this social program may promote immediate relief from the condition of extreme poverty, children born and raised with this benefit are still presenting oral health indicator of almost double the regional average.

Palavras-chave : Child; Dental caries; Government programs.