Dental caries in schoolchildren aged 6-12 years in Navolato, Sinaloa, México: experience, prevalence, severity and treatment needs.

Abstract

Introduction. Dental caries is the most prevalent disease in children.
Objective. To determine the caries experience, prevalence, and severity in temporal and permanent dentition, likewise to establish the significant caries index in schoolchildren of Navolato, Sinaloa, Mexico as well as their treatment needs.
Material And Methods. A cross sectional study in 3048 schoolchildren aged 6 to 12 years. All subjects were clinically examined by three examiners (kappa>0.85), according to World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Caries detection criteria used were the WHO's criteria and Pitts' lesion d1.
Results. The mean age was 8.81 +/- 1.79 years old and 52.2% were girls. In the temporal dentition; the dmft was 4.68 +/- 3.21 and caries prevalence of 90.2% (dmft>3 was 60.8%, and dmft>6 was 27.4%). The overall significant caries index was 10.52 for 6 year olds. The noncavitated lesions (d1) represented 37.1% of the ""decay"" component. In the permanent dentition; the DMFT was 3.24 +/- 2.72 and caries prevalence was 82.0% (DMFT>3 was 47.8%, and DMFT>6 was 9.0%). The overall significant caries index was 10.87 for 12 year olds. The noncavitated lesions (d1) represented 63.4% of the ""decay"" component. The majority, 89.6% and 81.1% of children needed at least one restoration of one and two dental surfaces, respectively. Girls were more affected by caries than boys in permanent dentition, but not in temporal dentition. The caries experience increased with age.
Conclusions. We observed high indices of caries, and high prevalence, severity and treatment needs. Noncavitated lesions were higher in permanent dentition that in primary dentition.