Trends in dental caries in Latin American and Caribbean 5-6- and 11-13-year-old children: a systematic review.
OBJECTIVE
To determine trends in dental caries prevalence and severity in Latin America and Caribbean.


METHODS
A systematic review was done of studies published between 1970 and 2000 among 5-6- and 11-13-year-old children that used WHO caries diagnostic criteria.


RESULTS
Over the last 30 years, there has been a significant decrease in caries severity for children 5-6 years old and also a significant decrease in caries prevalence and severity for children 11-13 years old. The same broad trends were observed when caries prevalence and severity was analyzed for the last 20 and 10 years but these were not statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Evidence of a decrease in dental caries in Latin American and Caribbean children has been shown, although the decrease was less prominent in the past few years.
Bönecker
Marcelo
M
Dental Research Institute, Medical Research Council and University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Cleaton-Jones
Peter
P
D000293:Adolescent; D017691:Caribbean Region / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America / Q000453:epidemiology; D016014:Linear Models; D015995:Prevalence; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000453:epidemiology