Prevalence and severity of caries in the primary dentition in 6-years-old children of Mafra

Objectives: Determine the prevalence and severity of dental caries in the primary dentition and the oral hygiene level in 6-year-old children of Mafra. Describe oral health related behaviours and analyze the association between oral health behaviours and both caries in the primary dentition and oral hygiene level. Methods: Cross-sectional study. Oral health behaviours information was obtained by a questionnaire. Caries (cpod using WHO criteria) and oral hygiene (OHI-S) data was collected by a calibrated observer. Statistical analysis was performed using Chi-Square, Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests (alpha = 0.05). Results: The sample included 165 children. The prevalence of caries in the primary dentition was 32.7% and the dmft was 1.32, with the vast majority of teeth (84.9%) being decayed. The mean OHI-S was 1.74. Most children had visited the dentist (61.0%) and ate cariogenic foods sometimes (76.2%). Over 80% of children brushed their teeth daily with parentshelp and 66.7% started brushing between the first and third year. A positive association was found between caries and the visit to the dentist, and the age toothbrushing started. Conclusions: The prevalence and severity of dental caries may be considered low. The oral health promotion activities should include information and motivation for healthy behaviours, specially, for the age of toothbrush beginning. (C) 2015 Sociedade Portuguesa de Estomatologia e Medicina Dentaria. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L.U.