Prevalência de cárie dentária na adolescência em Belém do Pará: uma perspectiva amazônica

Prevalence of dental caries in adolescence in Belém do Pará: an amazon perspective

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to collect data to estimate the prevalence of dental caries in adolescents in the city of Belém,
Pará, Brazil, using the variables age, gender, oral hygiene and access to dental services, contributing to actions for health
promotion and disease prevention. Methods: This is a descriptive observational study of quantitative characteristics. Data
collected consisted of a systematic sample of 480 adolescents who responded to questionnaires about oral hygiene habits
and underwent examinations using the index of decayed, missing and fi lled teeth (DMFT) to assess the oral health status.
Results: The prevalence of DMFT index in adolescents was 58.54% and the DMFT average index 2.08, which is above
the national and regional average of the latest epidemiological survey. The carious component accounted for most of the
DMFT index (81.85%), demonstrating the lack of access to dental care in this population. The highest values of DMFT index
were observed in older female, however both factors were not statistically signifi cant for the presence of the disease. The
frequency of dental appointments proved to be a decisive factor for the presence or absence of decayed teeth. Conclusion:
These data suggest a lack of restorative dental treatment and alarming prevalence of teeth affected by dental caries,
indicating the need for action to promote oral health, in order to minimize the complications caused by the disease, thus
improving the adolescents’ quality of life.