Dental caries was evaluated by surveying 15-to-19-year-olds in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, in 2002, concerning disease prevalence and severity according to age, gender, ethnicity, and public water supply fluoridation. This cross-sectional study was based on data collected through an oral dental health epidemiological survey. Adolescents (n = 1,825) were examined at their homes by 132 dentists from 35 cities in the State of São Paulo. Chi-square, Kruskal-Wallis, and Mann-Whitney tests were used (alpha = 5%). The SiC Index was used to determine the groups having higher caries experience. DMF-T was 6.44 (sd = 4.60) and SiC Index was 11.68. Caries-free frequency was 9.6%. No statistically significant difference was observed for DMF-T in relation to public water supply fluoridation; however, there was a high percentage of caries-free individuals in cities with fluoridation. Caries conditions were worse in males. A higher prevalence of decayed and missing teeth was observed in the non-white groups. Therefore, emphasis is recommended on strategies to mitigate harm by caries progression, especially in higher-risk groups.
CITATION STYLE
Gushi, L. L., Soares, M. da C., Forni, T. I. B., Vieira, V., Wada, R. S., & de Sousa, M. da L. R. (2005). Dental caries in 15-to-19-year-old adolescents in São Paulo State, Brazil, 2002. Cadernos de Saúde Pública / Ministério Da Saúde, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, 21(5), 1383–1391. https://doi.org/10.1590/s0102-311x2005000500010
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