[Dental caries in schoolchildren aged 6-12 years in Navolato, Sinaloa, México: experience, prevalence, severity and treatment needs].
BACKGROUND
Dental caries is the most prevalent disease in children.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the caries experience, prevalence, and severity in temporal and permanent dentition, likewise to establish the significant caries index in schoolchildren of Navolato, Sinaloa, Mexico as well as their treatment needs.


METHODS
A cross sectional study in 3048 schoolchildren aged 6 to 12 years. All subjects were clinically examined by three examiners (kappa>0.85), according to World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Caries detection criteria used were the WHO's criteria and Pitts' lesion d1.


RESULTS
The mean age was 8.81 +/- 1.79 years old and 52.2% were girls. In the temporal dentition; the dmft was 4.68 +/- 3.21 and caries prevalence of 90.2% (dmft>3 was 60.8%, and dmft>6 was 27.4%). The overall significant caries index was 10.52 for 6 year olds. The noncavitated lesions (d1) represented 37.1% of the "decay" component. In the permanent dentition; the DMFT was 3.24 +/- 2.72 and caries prevalence was 82.0% (DMFT>3 was 47.8%, and DMFT>6 was 9.0%). The overall significant caries index was 10.87 for 12 year olds. The noncavitated lesions (d1) represented 63.4% of the "decay" component. The majority, 89.6% and 81.1% of children needed at least one restoration of one and two dental surfaces, respectively. Girls were more affected by caries than boys in permanent dentition, but not in temporal dentition. The caries experience increased with age.


CONCLUSIONS
We observed high indices of caries, and high prevalence, severity and treatment needs. Noncavitated lesions were higher in permanent dentition that in primary dentition.
Villalobos-Rodelo
Juan José
JJ
Facultad de Odontología, Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa, Culiacán, Sinaloa, México.
Medina-Solís
Carlo Eduardo
CE
Molina-Frechero
Nelly
N
Vallejos-Sánchez
Ana Alicia
AA
Pontigo-Loyola
América Patricia
AP
Espinoza-Beltrán
José Luis
JL
D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D019140:Dental Care for Children; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D003733:Dental Caries Susceptibility; D003753:Dental Health Surveys; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology