title: Trends in caries experience and fluorosis prevalence in 11- to 12-year-old Brazilian children between 1991 and 2004.
abstract: Investigating dental caries and fluorosis prevalence over time is an important measure for monitoring trends in oral health.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This work aimed to describe the prevalence of dental caries and dental fluorosis of 11- to 12-year-old schoolchildren from Iracemapolis, Brazil, in 2004 (n=236) and to compare the current prevalence rates with those from previous surveys carried out in 1991 (n=200), 1995 (n=160), 1997 (n=314) and 2001 (n=244).
  
  
  METHODS
  The schoolchildren of both genders from all public schools were examined by two calibrated dentists (Kappa > 0.81), using dental probes and buccal mirrors under natural light in an outdoor setting. Dental caries and fluorosis were measured using the DMFT and Thylstrup-Fejerskov (T-F) indexes, respectively. The variation of DMFT index over time was assessed by analysis of regression and the fluorosis prevalence (T-F>1) was compared over time by the Chi-square test at 5% significance level.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 2004, the mean value for DMFT was 1.2; 50% of the children were caries-free, and 15.7% presented dental fluorosis (T-F>1). A significant caries reduction (82.1%) and a significant increase (685%) of fluorosis prevalence have been observed from 1991 to 2004 (p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest a continuous decrease of dental caries experience and an increase of dental fluorosis prevalence in 11-to 12-year-old schoolchildren from this Brazilian town as well as indicate that further epidemiological surveys should be carried out in order to monitor these trends.
authors.affiliation: Piracicaba Dental School, State University of Campinas, Brazil. meneghim@fop.unicamp.br
authors.forename: Marcelo de Castro
authors.initials: Mde C
authors.lastname: Meneghim
authors.forename: Elaine Pereira da Silva
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Tagliaferro
authors.forename: Cristiana
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tengan
authors.forename: Zuleica Maria Almeida
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Meneghim
authors.forename: Antonio Carlos
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Gláucia Maria Bovi
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Ambrosano
authors.forename: Andréa Videira
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Assaf
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D005457:Fluoridation / Q000009:adverse effects; D009050:Fluorosis, Dental / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014099:Toothbrushing