Dental caries in the primary dentition of a Colombian population according to the ICDAS criteria.
This paper describes the results of a cross-sectional study conducted with a randomized sample of 447 low-income children between 2.5 and 4 years of age selected from the files of a health institution in Medellin, Colombia. The patients were examined in 2007 using the modified criteria of the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS); the first caries code was not used. Clinical examination was carried out by three examiners previously trained in the ICDAS. The inter-examiner agreement was rated as good (kappa 0.73 - 0.82). The prevalence of untreated caries was 74.7% (335) with a mean of 9.7 +/- 9.4 affected surfaces. The prevalence of caries (treated and untreated) was 74.9% (335). The mean dmf-s was 7.6 +/- 9.7. The prevalence of non-cavitated lesions on at least one tooth surface was 73.4%. Cavitated lesions were more frequent on smooth surfaces than on occlusal surfaces (respectively 64.7% and 46.8%; p value < 0.001). Only 25.1% (112.5) of the children had no clinical signs of caries according to the ICDAS criteria. It was concluded that dental caries is a highly prevalent condition in this Colombian population, the main contributor being non-cavitated lesions. There was an association between caries and oral hygiene practices, such as the amount of toothpaste used, and also between caries and the occurrence of a previous dental visit (p value < 0.00). Eating habits constituted no statistically significant association.
Cadavid
Alexandra Saldarriaga
AS
Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Cariology, School of Dentistry, CES University, Colombia.
Lince
Clara María Arango
CM
Jaramillo
Marisela Cossio
MC
D002675:Child, Preschool; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003753:Dental Health Surveys; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015588:Observer Variation; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous