title: [Dental caries and treatment needs in adolescents from the state of São Paulo, 1998 and 2002].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate indicators of prevalence and severity of dental caries and treatment needs in adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were obtained from oral health epidemiological surveys carried out in the state of Sao Paulo with adolescents from 12 to 18 years old. Dental caries experience was assessed using DMFT Index and the need for treatment was assessed using World Health Organization criteria. Significant caries index was used to define dental caries experience of one third of the group that presented greater experience of the disease. For 12-year-old group, examinations occurred in public and private schools, in 1998 (N=9,327) and 2002 (N=5,782), while 18-year-old group was examined in their households (N=5,195 in 1998 and N=257 in 2002).
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 12 years old, DMFT index was 3.72 in 1998 and 2.52 in 2002, whereas at 18 years old, it was 8.64 and 7.13, respectively. Significant caries index at 12 was 7.40 (1998) and 5.62 (2002), at 18 it was 15.05 and 12.19, respectively. There was an increase in the need for surface restorative care at 12 year old (p<0.0001) and of sealants at 18 year old (p<0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was a decrease in dental caries among adolescents and most dental treatment needs were little complex.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Odontologia, Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Avenida Limeira 901, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lívia Litsue
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Gushi
authors.forename: Lílian Berta
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Rihs
authors.forename: Maria da Candelária
authors.initials: Mda C
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.forename: Tania Izabel Bighetti
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Forni
authors.forename: Vladen
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.forename: Ronaldo Seichi
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Wada
authors.forename: Maria da Luz Rosário de
authors.initials: Mda L
authors.lastname: Sousa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*