SESC SMILE PROJECT: THE WEIGHT OF THE EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT IN THE RATE OF DECAY

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence and distribution of dental caries in schoolchildren between six and ten years old, participants of the project “SESC Sorriso”. Material and Methods: it was developed a study with an inductive approach, including descriptive and comparative procedures from secondary data collected on two occasions: at the beginning of the project and eight months later. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis were carried out (nonparametric tests, a=5%). Results: A sample of 149 was obtained, being 74 boys (49.7%) and 75 girls (50.3%) whose mean age was 7.57 years. Most of the students had gone to the dentist (95.3%), 63.8% brushed their teeth three times a day and 30.9% of the children had never had fluoride applied to their teeth. The mean DMFT index was 1.71 (± 2.50, 95%CI: 1.31 to 2.12) and eight months later the value was 1.56 (± 2.36, 95%CI: 1.17 to 1.94). Initially, 43.0% of that mean obtained was attributed to the decayed component and 49.0% to the filled teeth. Later, these values were respectively of 30.0% and 63.0%. The decayed and filled components showed statistically significant difference (p-value<0.05). The initial DMFT was 0.26 (± 0.70, 95%CI: 0.15 to 0.38) and eight months later it was 0.43 (± 0.77, 95%CI: 0.22 to 0.47). Initially 26.0% of that mean was attributed to the decayed component and 74.0% to the filled teeth. Later, these values were of respectively 24.0% and 76.0%, and the filled component showed statistically significant difference (p-value< 0.05). The Gini coefficient ranged from 0.69 to 0.71 in the primary- and from 0.88 to 0.84 in the permanent-dentition. Conclusion: It was concluded that the students participating in the “SESC Sorriso” project had low caries experience, however, there is an unequal distribution of the disease, and the project should prioritize the most affected group.