title: Prevalence and severity of dental caries in schoolchildren of Porto, Portugal.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To measure the prevalence and severity of dental caries in adolescents of the city of Porto, Portugal, and to assess socioeconomic and behavioural covariates of dental caries experience.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 700 thirteen-year-old schoolchildren was examined. Results from the dental examination were linked to anthropometric information and to data supplied by two structured questionnaires assessing nutritional factors, socio-demographic characteristics and behaviour related to health promotion. Dental caries was measured using the DMFT index, and two dichotomous outcomes, one assessing the prevalence of dental caries (DMFT > 0); the other assessing the prevalence of a high level of dental caries (DMFT > or = 4).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Consuming soft drinks derived from cola (irrespective of sugared or diet) two or more times per week, attending a public school, being female and having parents with low educational attainment were identified as risk factors both for having dental caries and for having a high level of dental caries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Caries levels were positively associated with frequency of intake of sweetened foods and drinks.
authors.affiliation: Porto Medical School, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mello
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Antunes
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Waldman
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Relvas
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Barros
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002182:Candy / Q000009:adverse effects; D002253:Carbonated Beverages / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D004037:Diet, Cariogenic; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D011174:Portugal / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012574:Schools / Q000458:organization & administration; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires