To describe the distribution of dental trauma in Brazilian schoolchildren and its association with demographic, environmental and clinical factors. A random sample of 73 243 schoolchildren's oral examination records from private and public units, selected from 131 cities within the state of São Paulo, Brazil, was analysed. Trauma was assessed based on international methodological standards prescribed by the World Health Organization for Oral Health Surveys (1997). Proportions obtained were compared between urban and rural schools, as well as between private and public units. Oral health status indices were estimated based on the decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) index - the average number of decayed, missing and filled teeth; the proportion of caries-free 5-year-old schoolchildren and anterior maxillary overjet among 12-year-old schoolchildren. The prevalence of dental trauma in anterior dentition was of 2.4, enrolling average 1.2 teeth per child. A rate of 2.4 impaired anterior teeth per thousand was obtained, upper central incisors being those that were most affected - 7.7 in every 10. Among 8- to 11-year-old children, the rates grew regularly. The proportion of dental trauma was significantly higher in boys than in girls (P < 0.01), and gender prevalence ratio was of 1.58 for boys. The results showed positive associations between dental trauma and caries-free 5-year-old schoolchildren (P = 0.003), anterior maxillary overjet > or =3 mm (P < 0.001), and private school as a socio-economic proxy indicator (P = 0.048).

OBJETIVO: Estudar a evolução da prevalência de cárie em dentes permanentes da população infantil do Município de São Paulo, SP, no período 1970-1996, com base em levantamento epidemiológico em escolares das redes pública e privada de ensino. MÉTODOS: Utilizando metodologia recomendada pela Organização Mundial da Saúde, foram examinados 2.491 escolares de 103 unidades das redes de ensino público e privado. Foi obtida amostra probabilística, com base no cadastro das escolas do município. Os elementos amostrais foram identificados ao acaso. RESULTADOS: Observou-se que de uma situação de prevalência "muito alta" de cárie dentária nos anos 60 e 70, a população de referência evoluiu positivamente, na idade-índice de 12 anos, para um quadro de "baixa" prevalência. CONCLUSÃO: Entre 1986 e 1996 o declínio na cárie dentária, aos 12 anos de idade, foi da ordem de 68,2% entre escolares do Município de São Paulo.

The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of malocclusion in deciduousand permanent dentition of schoolchildren enrolled in public and private schools in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil, in 1996 (OR = 1,87; IC95% = 1,45; p < 0,001

A third of healthcare personnel from several hospitals are not in favor of xenotransplantation. It is necessary to provide more information about the matter, especially in hospitals where there is a preclinical xenotransplantation program or where there is access to one, such as in the hospitals in this study.

The current study assessed trends in oral cancer mortality in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, from 1980 to 2002. The official mortality information system supplied data on deaths whose underlying cause was classified as oral cancer, stratified by sex, age, and anatomic site. Death rates were estimated and adjusted by the direct method, using population data supplied by national censuses from 1980, 1991, and 2000 and a population count performed in 1996. There was an upward trend in overall cancer mortality, at a yearly rate of 0.72%. Accounting for more than one third of these deaths, tongue cancer was the main mortality category. Labial, gengival, and retromolar cancer showed a downward trend, while oropharyngeal cancer and cancer in unspecified parts of the mouth and oropharynx showed increasing mortality. Monitoring the magnitude and trends in cancer mortality can assist the planning of health initiatives aimed at reducing the disease burden from oral cancer in Brazil.

ObjectiveTo determine the prevalence and severity of occlusal problems in populations at the ages of deciduous and permanent dentition and to carry out a meta-analysis to estimate the weighted odds ratio for occlusal problems comparing both groups. Methods Data of a probabilistic sample (n=985) of schoolchildren aged 5 and 12 from an epidemiological study in the municipality of São Paulo, Brazil, were analyzed using univariate logistic regression (MLR). Results of cross-sectional study data published in the last 70 years were examined in the meta-analysis. ResultsThe prevalence of occlusal problems increased from 49.0% (95% CI =47.4%-50.6%) in the deciduous dentition to 71.3% (95% CI =70.3%-72.3%) in the permanent dentition (p<0.001). Dentition was the only variable significantly associated to the severity of malocclusion (OR=1.87; 95% CI =1.43-2.45; p<0.001). The variables sex, type of school and ethnic group were not significant. The meta-analysis showed that a weighted OR of 1.95 (1.91; 1.98) when compared the second dentition period with deciduous and mixed dentition. ConclusionsIn planning oral health services, some activities are indicated to reduce the proportion of moderate/severe malocclusion to levels that are socially more acceptable and economically sustainable. (IC 95% =47,6) na dentição decídua para 71,3% (IC 95% =70,3) na dentição permanente (p<0,001). O tipo de dentição foi a única variável estatisticamente associada à presença de má oclusão moderada/severa (OR=1,87; IC 95% =1,45; p<0,001 Resumo Objetivo Analisar a prevalência e severidade de problemas oclusais em populações em idades relacionadas à dentição decídua e permanente, e efetuar uma meta-análise para estimar odds ratio ponderada para problemas oclusais comparando os dois grupos. Métodos

The aim of this paper was to assess the caries experience of 12- and 15-year-old schoolchildren from public and private schools in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, and to identify the access of children to dental services and the coverage of such services, which might be related to differences between the groups. Cross-sectional data were obtained from 3,313 clinical exams, which followed the WHO (1997) criteria for the diagnosis of dental caries. The analysis was carried out by means of the Student's t test, the chi-square test and analysis of covariance. There were no differences regarding DMFT and frequency of caries-free individuals between public and private schools. However, while F (filled teeth) was the most prevalent component of the index in subjects from private schools, M (missing teeth) was the most common in those from public schools. The access to dental services in the last year was the only variable associated to the differences between both groups. Thus, the importance of access to dental services and social benefits must be pointed out in order to guarantee equity in oral health.

No abstract