[Prevalence of dental fluorosis in 12 and 15 years old schoolchildren in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, 2001].
This study aimed to determine the prevalence of dental fluorosis in a sample of 3,313 schoolchildren (ages 12 and 15) in a health district in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. A cross-sectional study was developed, and data were collected by seven examiners (kappa = 0.69) according to WHO criteria (the Dean index). Additional information such as participation in programs, access to a dentist, place of residence from 0-5 years of age, sex, and ethnicity were obtained through a questionnaire. A descriptive analysis was performed for the municipality as a whole and for each district. According to the results, 31.4% of the 12-year-olds and 27.6% of the 15-year-olds presented fluorosis, predominantly of the "very mild" type. Differences were found between the districts (p<0.05). The districts of Pau da Lima and Brotas had the highest percentages of healthy individuals at 12 years of age (81.8% and 81.6%). At 15 years, Subúrbio Ferroviário, Pau da Lima, and Cajazeiras were the districts with the lowest prevalence rates (13.0%, 14.6%, and 13.5%). The district of Liberdade had the highest prevalence (72.4% and 57.3%) at 12 and 15 years, respectively, attributed to differences in calibration. Differences were found between the health districts, thus emphasizing the need for health surveillance.
Cangussu
Maria Cristina Teixeira
MC
Departamento de Odontologia Social, Faculdade de Odontologia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brasil. cristinacangussu@lognet.com.br
Castellanos Fernandez
Roberto Augusto
RA
Rivas
Cristiane Castro
CC
Ferreira
Cláudio
C
Santos
Luciano Cincurá Silva
LC
D000293:Adolescent; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D009050:Fluorosis, Dental / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence