Ethnic disparities in the prevalence of dental caries and restorative dental treatment in Brazilian children.
OBJECTIVE
This study assesses disparities in the oral health status of Brazilian black and white children.


METHODS
11- and 12-year-old schoolchildren living in 131 cities of the State of São Paulo, Brazil.


METHODS
Spatial data analysis of city-level indexes of oral health, socio-economic status and provision of dental services.


METHODS
Ethnic ratios of the DMFT and the care index.


RESULTS
White children had higher indexes of caries in permanent teeth than their black counterparts, concurrent with a higher utilisation of dental attendance. The gap of caries prevalence between black and white children was reduced in cities with a better profile of socio-economic status. Cities with higher per-capita yearly budget, expenditure in health, and provision of public dental services presented reduced indications of ethnic inequality in dental care.


CONCLUSIONS
The knowledge of conditions associated with a lower ethnic discrepancy in the risk of caries and in the incorporation of dental services can be used to design socially appropriate dental services. An improved community dental service, higher public expenditure in health and per-capita municipal yearly budget contribute effectively to reducing inequities in oral health by allowing an incorporation of restorative dental treatment more equitably distributed between black and white children.
Antunes
José Leopoldo Ferreira
JL
Faculdade de Odontologia da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. leopoldo@usp.br
Pegoretti
Tatiana
T
de Andrade
Fabiana Paula
FP
Junqueira
Simone Rennó
SR
Frazão
Paulo
P
Narvai
Paulo Capel
PC
D044383:Black People; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002017:Budgets / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D003149:Community Dentistry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004245:DMF Index; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019140:Dental Care for Children / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D009909:Oral Health; D015995:Prevalence; D011636:Public Health Dentistry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012923:Social Class; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044465:White People