Estudio de salud bucodental en la Comunidad Valenciana 1998

Abstract

Aim and scope: Thee aim of this survey is to evaluate the oral health of the Valencian children, 10 years after the beginning of the Oral Health Plan in our community, and 9 years after the last children oral health survey. Methodology: The target population of the study were the 6, 12 and 15-16 year-old children of the Valencian Country. The children were selected from all the children enrolled in 1st year of elementary school (6 year-olds), 1st year of secondary school (12 year-olds), and 4th year of secondary school and similar school grades (15-16 year-olds). We used a stratified sampling technique with a 5% of precision. Those children who did not meet the age criteria were excluded before sampling. The clinical examinations were performed by three calibrated examiners, and the examinations were carried out at schools, with a standardized light source, during October, November and December, 1998. The variables considered were decayed filled and missing teeth, periodontal status, occlusion, dental fluorosis, enamel hypoplasia and opacities, and social class. Results: 67.2% of the 6 year old children were caries-free (dft 1; D.MFT0.6). At 12 the DMFT was 1.08 without signiftcant differences between boys and girls. We found an increase of the DMFT in the 15-16 year-olds, and this increase was significantly greated in girls than in boys. The mean number of bleeding sextants in 6 years old chidren was 0.58, and it increased to 1.32 in the 116 years-olds. Angle's Class 1 was the most prevalent. Dental fluorosis prevalence was very low. We found a relationship between caries in primary dentitiorn (6 year-olds) and in permanent dentition (12 year-olds) and social class. Conclusions: Children caries prevalence is low or very low in the Valencian Country and shows a decreasing trend if compared with previous studies. In the 12 year-olds, the F component of the DMF is higher than in previous surveys. There is a shaip increase of the DMF between the 12 and the 15-16 year olds groups. No differences with previous surveys regarding periodontal health were observed. Children from the higher social class group show better oral health than children from the middle and lower social classes.