Abstract

PEREZ OLIVARES, Sayde Adelina et al. Caries dental en primeros molares permanentes y factores socioeconómicos en escolares de Campeche, México. Rev Cubana Estomatol [online]. 2002, vol.39, n.3, pp. 265-281. ISSN 1561-297X.

This study was aimed at determining the state of caries in the first permanent molars to analyze the severity of the damage caused, the magnitude and distribution of the problem, and to explore their relationship with socioeconomic factors. In a representative sample of 3 615 schoolchildren aged 6-13, 3 standardized examiners (Kappa = 95) applied the criterion of magnitude of the carious lesion (Gutierrez, 1987). The prevalence of caries was 80.3 %, the CPOD for the group aged 6 was 0.11 (.444), whereas for those aged 12 it was 1.25 (1.78). The frequency of school children with more severe lesions was 17.37 % The percentage of men with the first 45 molars affected is 1.47 % in the group aged 6-9, and 5.67 % for those aged 10 - 13. This percentage increased from 1.ll to 6.5 % among women from the same age groups. It was found association between the frequency of children with severe injuries and the mother's attitude towards oral health, number of children in the family and the mother's educational level. The results showed the persistence of high indexes of caries and the need of education about the importance of this tooth and of oral health.

Keywords : DENTAL CARIES [epidemiology]; SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS; DENTITION, PERMANENT; CHILD; SCHOOLS; MEXICO.