Six years of difference
comparison of caries experience in preschoolers in the interior of Sergipe
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35699/2178-1990.2026.60576Keywords:
cárie dentária, epidemiologia, pré-escolar, promoção da saúde, estudo observacionalAbstract
Aim: Early childhood caries (ECC) is a chronic disease of multifactorial etiology that affects children up to 6 years of age worldwide and can cause various systemic and even psychosocial complications. Understanding its context and prevalence in a population is essential for strategic planning aimed at preserving oral health and overall child well-being.
Objective: To compare caries experience in preschool children aged 3 to 5 years between the periods from March 2017 to March 2018 and from March to August 2023 in the municipality of Lagarto, Sergipe.
Materials and Methods: In this observational and comparative study, the decayed, indicated for extraction, and filled deciduous teeth index (dmft) of children aged 3 to 5 years was analyzed in schools at two different time points to verify changes in the population profile. Caries experience was categorized as caries-free (dmft = 0), low (dmft ≤ 5), and high (dmft ≥ 6). Mann–Whitney and Chi-square tests were performed (p < 0.05).
Results: In total, 16 schools were visited (nine in 2017 and seven in 2023), and 396 children participated in the study (191 and 205, respectively). No significant differences were observed in caries prevalence or caries experience between the two evaluated periods. In the first survey, 109 (57.1%) children were caries-free, 60 (31.4%) had low caries experience, and 22 (11.5%) had high caries experience. Six years later, 103 (50.2%) children were caries-free, 65 (31.7%) had low caries experience, and 37 (18.0%) had high caries experience. The mean dmft increased from 1.61 to 2.44 (p = 0.03), and increasing age was associated with higher dmft values and all their individual components, considering a significance level of 5% (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: There was an increase in the community dmft in 2023 compared with 2017, with greater evidence of an increase in the decayed component. These results highlight the importance of promoting oral health and improving access to dental care services to prevent and control the progression of caries in preschool children.
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