Association between different stages of dental caries in preschoolers and familial socioeconomic factors

• Published in: Brazilian oral research Vol. 36; p. e018
• Main Authors: Fernandes, Izabella Barbosa, Ramos-Jorge, Joana, Coelho, Valéria Silveira, Pinto, Ana Clara Sá, Pordeus, Isabela Almeida, Paiva, Saul Martins, Ramos-Jorge, Maria Letícia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Sociedade Brasileira de Pesquisa Odontológica - SBPqO 2022
• Subjects: Brazil - epidemiology; Child; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dental Caries - epidemiology; DENTISTRY, ORAL SURGERY & MEDICINE; Humans; Parents; Prevalence; Socioeconomic Factors; Brazil; Child, Preschool; Oral Health; Dental Caries; Socioeconomic Factors
• ISSN: 1806-8324; 1807-3107; 1807-3107
• DOI: 10.1590/1807-3107bor-2022.vol36.0018

This study evaluated the association between socioeconomic factors and stages of dental caries in children one to five years of age. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 759 children enrolled in preschools in Diamantina, Brazil. The parents/caregivers filled out a form addressing socioeconomic factors. Add to the end of this sentence: and categorized in caries free (code 0 and 1), no obvious decay (code 2 and 3) and obvious decay (code 4, 5 and 6). Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney test and multinomial regression. The prevalence of "no obvious decay" was higher among children from families with a larger number of income-dependent individuals (OR: 2.47; 95%CI: 1.41-4.31). The higher prevalence of "obvious decay" was associated with the child's age (OR: 1.36; 95%CI: 1.16-1.58), attending a public preschool (OR: 2.38; 95%CI: 1.31-4.34), a larger number of income-dependent individuals (four to five individuals: OR: 1.71; 95%CI: 1.09-2.74; more than five individuals: OR: 3.41; 95%CI: 1.95-5.94), no access to a dentist (OR: 2.14; 95%CI: 1.48-3.09), and lower income (OR: 1.72; 95%CI: 1.19--2.49). It was concluded that the variable of a larger number of income-dependent individuals was associated with both no obvious decay and obvious decay. Child's age, type of preschool, access to a dentist, and income were associated with obvious decay.