title: Dental caries prevalence of twelve year olds in Puerto Rico.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the prevalence of dental caries amongst twelve-year old Puerto Ricans.
  
  
  METHODS
  Population-based, cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Public and private schools in the 11 health regions of Puerto Rico.
  
  
  METHODS
  A probabilistic sample of 12-year old school attendees in Puerto Rico.
  
  
  METHODS
  One thousand four hundred and thirty-five subjects were evaluated following NIDCR criteria and methodology for DMFS and DMFT indicators from a population of approximately 70,000 12-year olds during April through December 1997.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall mean DMFS was 6.5 (SE 0.38) and ranged from 9.2 in the Central Region to 5.3 in the Metropolitan and West Regions. The mean DMFT was 3.8 (SE 0.18). The decayed component comprised 42% of the DMFS; caries prevalence for the population was 81%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The mean DMFS for twelve year olds is higher than the mean DMFS of 4.2 to 4.7, reported for 12 to 17 years olds in the USA. Dental caries is a highly prevalent disease amongst 12-year olds in Puerto Rico.
authors.affiliation: University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, School of Dentistry Research Center, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936-5067, USA. aelias@rcm.upr.edu
authors.forename: Augusto R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Elías-Boneta
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Crespo Kebler
authors.forename: Carmen C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Gierbolini
authors.forename: Carlos E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Toro Vizcarrondo
authors.forename: Walter J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Psoter
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D011647:Puerto Rico / Q000453:epidemiology; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000453:epidemiology; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data