Cabrera ED, López GF, Ferrer HO, Tellería CAM, Calá DT

Language: Spanish
References: 0
Page: 958-962
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ABSTRACT

Introduction: dental caries is the most prevalent chronic disease in children.
Objective: to determine the prevalence and to identify the risk factors of dental caries in children aged 2-5 years.
Materials and methods: a cross-sectional, descriptive, observational study was carried out in the medical consultations belonging to the Comprehensive Health Area "Paulo VI", Municipality Sucre, Miranda State, in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. The sample was formed by the 212 children, aged 2-5 years, who attended the Dentist Consultation. The oral examination was performed and a survey was applied. The used summary measure was the percentage and the index of decayed-filled teeth and indicated removal.
Results: the children most affected by dental caries were the ones aged 5 years (49.0 %) with a slight predominance of the male sex. The decayed component showed the highest index (343). It was proved that the highest DMFT index was found in children aged 5 years. Cariogenic diet reached the highest percent (92.4 %). 81.1 % of the relatives or representatives had a low level of scholarship, and 80.2 % of them, inadequate knowledge on oral health.
Conclusions: the dental caries prevalence was high, with a small increase in the male sex. The highest morbidity by caries was observed at the age of 5 years. The predominating risk factors were cariogenic diet, low level of scholarship and inadequate knowledge.