Dental caries spectrum profile in Brazilian public school children and adolescents

Abstract

Dental caries remains a major public health problem, with a higher prevalence among in adolescence. The present study aimed to assess the dental caries spectrum profile in children and adolescents in Brazilian public schools. A cross-sectional study was performed in two public schools in Brazil to examine the permanent teeth of children and adolescents. The dental caries were assessed by applying the Caries Assessment Spectrum and Treatment (CAST) instrument, and the results were distributed as per disease status (healthy/codes 0-2; pre-morbidity/code 3; morbidity/code 4-5; severe morbidity/codes 6-7; mortality/code 8) and by severity as per the CAST-F1 formula (no severity, mild, moderate, and severe). The CAST data were described by age groups (8-9 y, 10-11 y, 12-13 y, 14-15 y, 16-17 y, and 18-19 y). The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to investigate differences in CAST prevalence and severity among the groups (p < 0.05). Total 598 students were enrolled. Most of the subjects were male (53.34%) and belonged to the age group of 12-13 y (34.95%). The variables CAST 0/1 (p = 0.024), CAST (p = 0.024), and CAST-F1 (p = 0.029) showed significant differences among age groups, and the post hoc test showed the differences in these variables as per the age groups of 14-15 y and 16-17 y (CAST 0/1, p = 0.047; CAST, p = 0.047; CAST-F1, p = 0.033). The dental caries spectrum increased from 8 to 19 y with a peak in the prevalence and severity in the middle of adolescence.

Dental caries according to CAST among Zambian adolescents; pattern, socio-demographic and behavioral correlates

“…Furthermore, having large group of adolescents in the category of pre-morbidity caries clinical stage is also a possible indicator of ongoing exposure of risk factors and insufficiency of effective school based oral health promotion activities for this age group in the country. This finding is in line with previous studies which report high prevalence of teeth at pre morbidity stages among adolescents [ 20 ], although Velasco et al 2021 reported the opposite [ 22 ]. Untreated obvious decayed teeth were high indicating problems with either seeking or accessing oral health services.…”

Resin Infiltration of Non-Cavitated Enamel Lesions in Paediatric Dentistry: A Narrative Review

“…Managing dental caries among the paediatric population is a never-ending story. Although dental caries is preventable, it has affected more than 600 million children worldwide [ 1 ], and without prompt intervention, the disease can progress and increase the morbidity of the child [ 2 ]. With a better understanding of the etiological factors and behaviour of dental caries, the concept of caries management in the modern era has now changed [ 3 ].…”