Resumo

SILVA, Lídia Fátima Hildebrand e; AMARAL, Regiane Cristina do; MEIRELLES, Maria Paula Rando  e  SOUSA, Maria da Luz Rosário de. Socio-behavioral factors in dental caries polarization groups in preschool and schoolchildren in a mid-sized city. Arq. Odontol. [online]. 2014, vol.50, n.3, pp. 103-112. ISSN 1516-0939.

Aim: To evaluate the experience of dental caries, identify polarization groups, and verify factors associated with dental caries in children and adolescents in the city of Pirassununga, SP, Brazil. Methods: Data collection was conducted by epidemiological survey in 2006 among preschool children at 5 years of age (n=113) and school children at 12 years of age (n=117). This study followed the codes and standardized criteria set forth by the World Health Organization (WHO). After, the Poisson regression analysis was performed comparing the dental caries group (DMFT/ dmft > 0) and SiC group (Significant Caries Index). Results: At 5 years of age, 62.8% of the sample consisted of caries-free children, with a DMFT average of 2.0 (SD = 2.9) and a SiC average of 4.00 (SD = 3.6). At 12 years of age, the average DMFT was of 1.2 (SD = 1.9), with a SiC average of 3.1 (SD = 2.4); 53.8% were caries-free. The variables associated with caries at 5 years of age in the dental caries group (DMFT > 0) included: having sought out a dentist because of pain / caries (p = 0.00) and having either a father or a mother as the main financial provider (p = 0.053). In the polarization group (SiC), the variables included: frequency of tooth brushing of 1-2 times per day (p = 0.052) and having visited the dentist within the past year (p = 0.025). At 12 years of age, in the dental caries group (DMFT > 0), the variables with strong association were: means of transportation - bus/bicycle (p = 0.026) - and having been absent from school due to pain/caries (p = 0.011). The SiC variables included the means of transportation - bus/bicycle (p=0.034) - and having visited the dentist within the past year (p = 0.023). Conclusion: In both age groups, in deciduous and permanent dentitions as well as in both the DMFT and SIC groups, caries experience was associated with socioeconomic, sociobehavioral, and access factors.

Palavras-chave : Dental caries.; Epidemiology.; Socioeconomic factors..