FIRST PERMANENT MOLAR CARIES IN SCHOOL CHILDREN OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL FROM ACAPULCO, MEXICO

https://doi.org/10.56274/rcs.2023.2.1.18

Abstract

Introduction: Worldwide, it is estimated that 2000 million people suffer from caries in permanent teeth, while 514 million children suffer from it in primary teeth. In Mexico, the Epidemiological Surveillance System of Oral Pathologies of 2020 estimates that caries affects more than half of children and adolescents. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of permanent first molar caries in school children of a public elementary school in Acapulco, Mexico. Material and methods: Cross-sectional epidemiological study in 54 school children during the period from September to October 2021. A self-administered questionnaire was applied that collected sociodemographic data, oral hygiene and diet. Codes 4, 5, and 6 of the International System for the Diagnosis and Detection of Caries were used for the evaluation of permanent first molars. A multivariate analysis was performed with the prevalence ratio and its 95% confidence interval as an estimator of the strength of association with SPSS V.24.0 software. Results: The prevalence of caries in at least one permanent molar was 48.1% (26/54). Males were at higher risk for caries development (aPR=2.24; aCI95=1.34 - 5.23). Conclusion: Caries morbidity in first permanent molars was high, so local health authorities should make improvements in strategies aimed at reducing this dental condition.