[Prevalence of dental caries in 12-year-old children in localities of the State of São Paulo, Brazil, in 1990-1995].
BACKGROUND
Dental caries is the most prevalent disease of the oral cavity, leading to serious economic and social consequences. Studies on the prevalence of dental caries should be undertaken periodically for the adequate planning of oral health services and action. This research project sought to discover the prevalence of dental caries in the counties of S. Paulo State, Brazil, measured by means of the DMF-T rate on the 12 year-old bracket from 1990-1995.


METHODS
Data originally produced by Municipal Health Departments, collected by means of an instrument devised for this purpose, sent to 625 counties in the state, were used. The counties concerned were grouped according to their size and geographical region.


RESULTS
The total of 625 counties of S. Paulo State, 237 (37.9%) provided the information required, and 125 (20.0%) had data on DMF-T corresponding to about 5,000 12 year-old children available examined. The study revealed that the prevalence of dental caries is low in only 4.0% of the counties, and is high or very high in approximately 80% of them. The DMF-T index values varied from 1.3 to 13.6, and the estimated average for all the counties was 4.8. Further, it was discovered that "large" counties recorded 54.6% of their population classified in the categories of low or moderate prevalence of caries; while in "small" counties 87.8% of the population corresponded to the high or very high caries prevalence range.


CONCLUSIONS
This research project has shown that the country services for oral health in S. Paulo State have made little use of the basic resources that epidemiology can provide. This indicates the need for an appropriate professional background for oral health in epidemiology, especially for those who fulfil duties in the coordination of the services.
Peres
M A
MA
Departamento de Saúde Pública do Centro de Ciências, Saúde da Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brasil. peresp@repensul.ufsc.br
Narvai
P C
PC
Calvo
M C
MC
D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003752:Dental Health Services; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Prevalência de cárie dentária em crianças aos doze anos de idade, em localidades do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil, período 1990-1995.