Abstract

RAMIREZ-PUERTA, Blanca S; FRANCO-CORTES, Angela M; OCHOA-ACOSTA, Emilia  and  ESCOBAR-PAUCAR, Gloria. Caries experience in primary dentition in children at 5- year- old, Medellin, Colombia. Rev. Fac. Nac. Salud Pública [online]. 2015, vol.33, n.3, pp.345-352. ISSN 0120-386X.  https://doi.org/10.17533/udea.rfnsp.v33n3a03.

OBJECTIVE: to estimate the dental caries experience and severity of dental caries in preschool children at 5- year- old in Medellin, Colombia. METHODOLOGY: : the information was obtained in a random sample of 486 children, who were examined for diagnosis of caries experience in dentin and caries limited to tooth enamel. The classic dmft and modified dmft indexes were calculated. Chi-square and t student tests were made. RESULTS : the percentage of children of lower classes with caries experience in dentin was 54.7% and 26% of middle and upper classes, the percentages increase to 88.6% and 50.7% respectively when limited to dental enamel lesions were included. The averages of the classical and modified dmft were 1.9 ±2.9 y 4.9±4.6 respectively. In children of lower classes classic dmft was 2.2±3.1 and in the higher strata was 0.6±1.2; while the modified dmft values were 5.4±4.7 and 1.9±2.8 respectively. CONCLUSION: children of lower classes at 5 year-old in Medellin, had high levels of dental caries, indicating the need to implement preventive and care programs in oral health from early age.

Keywords : dental caries; epidemiology; oral health; child; preschool.

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