Evaluation of the oral health of schoolchildren in Monte Formoso, Minas Gerais: cross-sectional study
Keywords:
CPO-D Index, Prevalence, Dental Caries, Child, Oral HealthArticle Sidebar
Main Article Content
Background: Dental caries in childhood remains an important public health issue, strongly influenced by socioeconomic conditions and access to health services. Local epidemiological studies are essential to guide preventive strategies and oral health public policies.
Objective: To analyze the oral health of schoolchildren in Monte Formoso, Minas Gerais, Brazil, and evaluate the correlation between dental caries and socioeconomic factors, comparing urban and rural areas, as well as 5- and 12-year-old children.
Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 132 children (aged 5 and 12) enrolled in public schools. The DMFT and deft indices were assessed, and guardians completed questionnaires on socioeconomic and health-related data. Data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney test for group comparisons and Spearman’s correlation for associations between variables. A significance level of p<0.05 was adopted.
Results: The deft index was 2.17 for 5-year-olds and 1.76 for 12-year-olds. The decayed component was 7.8% in younger children and 4.1% in 12-year-olds. A significant negative correlation was found between income and the deft index. Children who had visited a dentist had a higher deft/DMFT index (2.03). No significant differences in caries indices were observed between age groups or between urban and rural areas.
Conclusion: Monte Formoso presents low deft and DMFT indices in both 5- and 12-year-old children, with no significant variations by age or area of residence.
1. Corrêa LLG, Sousa MLR, Frias AC, Antunes JLF. Factors associated with dental caries in adolescents: a cross-sectional study, São Paulo State, 2015. Epidemiol Serv Saude. 2020;29(5). Doi: https://doi.org/10.1590/s1679-49742020000500007
2. Batista TR, Vasconcelos MG, Vasconcelos RG. Pathophysiology of dental caries: understanding the caries process. Salusvita. 2020;39(1):169-187.
3. Monteiro ACC, Gomes BRA, Carvalho FS, Silva IL, Nicácio LS. Prevalence of dental caries in children. Rev Delos. 2024;17(62). Doi: https://doi.org/10.55905/rdelosv17.n62-097
4. World Health Organization. Oral health surveys: basic methods. 5th ed. Geneva: WHO; 2013.
5. Nóbrega AV, Moura LF, Andrade NS, Lima CC, Dourado DG, Lima MD. Impact of dental caries on preschool children’s quality of life measured by PedsQL. Cien Saude Colet. 2019;24(11):4031-4042. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-812320182411.04712018
6. Lopes LM, Sarracini KLM, Cavalcante DB, Pereira AC. Dental caries at 12 years of age in São Paulo State: a temporal comparison. Braz J Develop. 2023;9(9):25769-25777. Doi: https://doi.org/10.34117/bjdv9n9-013
7. Queiroz FS, Costa LED, Silvestre TLA. Oral health, socioeconomic factors and quality of life of 12-year-old children in Patos, PB, Brazil. Arch Health Invest. 2018;7(8):316-322. Doi: https://doi.org/10.21270/archi.v7i8.3118
8. Feldens CA, Braga VS, Kramer PF, Vítolo MR, Rodrigues PH, Coelho EB, et al. Primary dentition caries patterns as predictors of permanent dentition caries: a prospective cohort study. Caries Res. 2023;57(2):167-176. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1159/000529620
9. Ministry of Health (BR), Secretariat of Primary Health Care, Department of Strategies and Policies for Community Health. SB Brasil 2023: National Oral Health Survey: final report. 1st rev ed. Brasília: Ministry of Health (BR); 2025. 537 p. Available from: http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/publicacoes/sb_brasil_2023_relatorio_final_1edrev.pdf
10. Petersen PE. The World Oral Health Report 2003: continuous improvement of oral health in the 21st century – the WHO Global Oral Health Programme. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 2003;31 Suppl 1:3-23. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.2003.comdent.2003.00161.x
11. Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). 2010 Demographic Census. Rio de Janeiro: IBGE (BR)2012. Available from: https://biblioteca.ibge.gov.br/visualizacao/periodicos/93/cd_2010_caracteristicas_populacao_domicilios.pdf
12. Domingos PAS, Ribeiro DG, Dinelli W, Staufacker CA, Campos JADB. Epidemiological aspects of children’s oral health in a Brazilian municipality. Arq Odontol [Internet]. 2016;46(2):82-87. Available from: https://periodicos.ufmg.br/index.php/arquivosemodontologia/article/view/3531
13. Ministry of Health (BR), Secretariat of Health Care, Secretariat of Health Surveillance. SB Brasil 2010: National Oral Health Survey: main results. 1st rev ed. Brasília: Ministry of Health (BR);2012. 116 p. Available from: https://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/publicacoes/pesquisa_nacional_saude_bucal.pdf
14. Moraes SNS, Arsenian MB, Tucci R. Clinical evaluation and use of DMFT/“deft” index in children. J Health Sci Inst. 2014;32(3):235-240.
15. Agnelli PB. Variation of DMFT index in Brazil from 1980 to 2010. Rev Bras Odontol. 2015;72(1-2):10-15. Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.18363/rbo.v72i1/2.549
16. Wigen TI, Wang NJ. Maternal health and child oral health: a longitudinal study of mother–child pairs in Norway. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 2011;39(4):296-303. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0528.2010.00596.x
17. Erckmann MC, Guanabara VO, Santos VV, Rosa CG, Masiero AV. Maternal knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding child oral health. Cuad Ed Desar. 2024;16(13). Doi: https://doi.org/10.55905/cuadv16n13-049
18. Oliveira MRC. The role of parents in children’s oral health: influence of parental practices on prevention of oral diseases. Cienc Saude. 2024;29(140). Doi: https://doi.org/10.69849/revistaft/ch10202411170704
19. Palhares ALS, Torres JLM, Sousa MEM, Nobrega RPAM, Correia VRC, Deus WA, et al. Prevalence and predisposing factors of dental caries in children treated at a pediatric clinic of a federal higher education institution. 2024;6(7):2513-2535. Doi: https://doi.org/10.36557/2674-8169.2024v6n7p2513-2535
20. Müller IB, Castilhos EDD, Camargo MBJ, Gonçalves H. Caries experience and use of public dental services by schoolchildren: a descriptive study in Arroio do Padre, Rio Grande do Sul, 2013. Epidemiol Serv Saude. 2015;24(3):759-770. Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.5123/S1679-49742015000400018
21. Göranson E, Sonesson M, Naimi-Akbar A, Dimberg L. Malocclusions and quality of life among adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Orthod. 2023;45(3):295-307. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/ejo/cjad009
22. Alanzi A, Husain F, Husain H, et al. Severity of untreated dental caries and oral health-related quality of life in preschool children. BMC Oral Health. 2023;23:552. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-023-03274-7
23. Costa Martins CL, Jetelina JC. Parents’ knowledge about oral health in childhood and its relationship with the reason for dental visits. J Oral Investig. 2016;5(1):27-33. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/309517509_Conhecimento_dos_Pais_Sobre_Saude_Bucal_na_Infancia_e_a_Relacao_com_o_Motivo_da_Consulta_Odontologica#fullTextFileContent
24. Gomes MC, Clementino MA, Pinto-Sarmento TC, Costa EMMB, Martins CC, Granville-Garcia AF, et al. Parental perceptions of oral health status in preschool children and associated factors. Braz Dent J. 2015;26(4):428-434. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1590/0103-6440201300245
25. Neves EC, Paiva HN, Paiva PCP, Silva AIV, Souto LAP, Chagas PVF, et al. Prevalence of caries and dental fluorosis in children treated at a dental school clinic in Northern Minas Gerais. ARE . 2024;6(4):19000-19014. Doi: https://doi.org/10.56238/arev6n4-468
26. Pereira AL, Santana Júnior FD, Castro SS, Santos MMF, Gato TJN, Santos VPS, et al. Evaluation of oral conditions and treatments in children treated at a dental school clinic in Manaus, AM. Peer Rev. 2023;5(22):414-428. Available from: https://repositorio.usp.br/item/003165726
27. Abreu MHNG, Cruz AJS, Borges-Oliveira AC, Martins RC. Perspectives on social and environmental determinants of oral health. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(24):13429. Doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182413429
28. Sengupta K, Bihrmann K, Christensen LB, Mortensen LH, Andersen I, Ersbøll AK. Geographic inequality in dental caries and socioeconomic factors over 18 years in Denmark. BMC Oral Health. 2023;23:662. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-023-03373-5
29. Zhang T, Hong J, Yu X, Liu Q, Li A, Wu Z, et al. Association between socioeconomic status and dental caries among Chinese preschool children. BMJ Open. 2021;11(5). Doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-042908
30. Veras VA, Ferreira EMS, Amaral LROG, Silva JFM. Prevalence of dental caries in 5- and 12-year-old schoolchildren in Palmas, TO. Res Soc Dev. 2022;11(2). Doi: https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v11i2.25667
31. Curi DSC, Figueiredo ACL, Jamelli SR. Factors associated with the use of oral health services by the pediatric population: an integrative review. Cien Saude Colet. 2018;23(5):1561-1576. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232018235.20422016
32. Barreto MAC, Bottesini VC, Barreto IDC, Duarte DA. Knowledge of parents/caregivers about their children’s oral health: a cross-sectional study. Saude Colet. 2025;16(102):17840-17863. Doi: https://doi.org/10.36489/saudecoletiva.2025v16i102p17840-17863
33. Scherer F, Klein C, Paludo J, Kraemer F, Dal Bosco SM. Dental caries and nutritional status of children and adolescents. Rev Destaques Acad. 2014;6(3):89-96. Available from: https://www.univates.br/revistas/index.php/destaques/article/view/419
34. Santos RC, Queiroz IQD, Andrade RS, Piovesan ETA. Impact of socioeconomic conditions on oral health of socially vulnerable children and adolescents. Saude Colet. 2025;15(94):15367-15380. Doi: https://doi.org/10.36489/saudecoletiva.2025v15i94p15367-15380
Downloads
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Los autores/as conservan los derechos de autor y ceden a la revista el derecho de la primera publicación, con el trabajo registrado con la licencia de atribución de Creative Commons, que permite a terceros utilizar lo publicado siempre que mencionen la autoría del trabajo y a la primera publicación en esta revista.