[Oral health among preschool children in Brazil, 1999].
OBJECTIVE
To assess dental decay, gum diseases and fluorosis prevalence and evaluate treatment needs of public preschool children.


METHODS
A cross-sectional epidemiological survey on oral health was conducted in 2,805 public preschool children aged 5 and 6 years in Piracicaba, Brazil. Children were examined by a team of ten trained dentists. It was applied a consensus technique and intra and inter agreement among examiners was assessed using the percentage of agreement.


RESULTS
Of the total, 44.3% children were free of dental decay at the age of 5 and 38.5% at the age of 6. The deciduous decay teeth index (dmf-t) was 2.64 at the age of 5 and 3.07 at the age of 6, and 31.9% and 37.9%, respectively, presented dmf-t greater than 3. The largest percent of treatment need (45.3%) was surface restoration. Regarding gum health, 68.6% and 72.6% of children aged 5 and 6 years presented gum bleeding. The prevalence of fluorosis was 2.6% at the age of 5 and 6.1% at the age of 6.


CONCLUSIONS
It is necessary to develop appropriate actions and strategies for higher risk groups.
Cypriano
Silvia
S
Departamento de Odontologia Social, Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Piracicaba, SP, Brasil.
de Sousa
Maria da Luz Rosário
Mda L
Rihs
Lilian Berta
LB
Wada
Ronaldo S
RS
D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D009050:Fluorosis, Dental / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009909:Oral Health; D015995:Prevalence
Saúde bucal dos pré-escolares, Piracicaba, Brasil, 1999.