Experiência de cárie em crianças de instituições de educação infantil com e sem assistência odontológica

Resumo

Purpose: To compare the caries experience of children attending public nursery schools with or without an oral health programme. Methods: Secondary data from an epidemiological survey carried out in Goiânia, GO, Brazil, in 2001 was used. The sample consisted of 3 to 6 year-old children attending local state nursery schools with the oral health programme (Group 1, n=275) and those attending nursery schools without this benefit (Group 2, n=261). The oral health programme included clinic, preventive, and educative procedures, with focus on dental treatment, which was carried out by a dental team in a mobile unit every year. Results: There was no difference in caries prevalence and dmf-s between the two groups. Regarding dmf-s components, only filled surfaces showed statistical significance with higher levels for Group 1 (P=0.040). Multiple logistic regression analysis, after adjusting for the sociodemographic variables, showed that Group 2 had lower chance to have children with filled teeth than Group 1 (OR=0.48, P=0.025). Conclusion: The access to dental care for children in Group 1 partially reduced their treatment needs through an increase of the filled component. However, it did not significantly impact caries prevalence and other dmf-s components.

Descrição

Palavras-chave

Cárie dentária, Pré-escolar, Assistência odontológica, Educação infantil, Creches, Pré-escolar

Citação

FREIRE, Maria do Carmo Matias et al. Experiência de cárie em crianças de instituições de educação infantil com e sem assistência odontológica. Revista Odonto Ciência, Porto Alegre, v. 24, n. 1, p. 64-70, 2009.