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BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of dental pain and to examine its association with untreated dental caries in 5-year-old children. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of 261 5-year-old children in Northeast Brazil. Parents answered questions about their socioeconomic conditions and their children's toothache. Trained dentists assessed dental caries using the decayed, missing and filled teeth (dmf-t) index. Binary logistic regression models were used to estimate the unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and the confidence intervals (95% CIs) for the association of dental pain with covariates. The significance level was set at five percent. RESULTS: The prevalence of dental pain was 28.7%, and 48.2% of children had untreated dental caries. Dental pain was associated with untreated dental caries (OR=5.7; 95% CI: 3.1-10.53; p<0.001) and living with one parent or other family members (OR=2.3; 95% CI: 1.2-4.4; p=0.008). Sociodemographic factors were not associated with dental pain. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of dental pain in preschool children is high, and this condition is associated with both untreated dental caries and living with one parent or other family members. Key words:Toothache, socioeconomic factors, dental caries.
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Abstract Introduction Fluoridation of public water supply is an important measure in the prevention of dental caries. Objective This study aimed to monitor the fluoride (F) concentrations of a public water supply with water fluoridation program in a small municipality in the Northeast region of Brazil. Material and method It is a quantitative study with a descriptive approach. Three points of the urban area were selected for collecting water samples twice a month for 12 months. The average of F concentrations was calculated considering these three samples of each collection point at the same occasion. F concentrations in the water samples were determined by potentiometry and the results were classified according to the criterion proposed by criterion set down by Collaborating Center of the Brazilian Ministry of Health for Oral Health Surveillance. The samples were classified according to the best risk-benefit adjustment (0.55 - 0.84 mg F /L). Result Less than 10% of the samples were within the ideal range. Conclusion It was observed that water fluoridation in this municipality was interrupted since many water samples showed f-levels below the minimal acceptable values.
Resumo Introdução A fluoretação das águas de abastecimento público é uma medida importante na prevenção à cárie dentária. Objetivo O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar e monitorar os teores de flúor nas águas de abastecimento público em um município de pequeno porte no Nordeste do Brasil. Material e método O estudo apresenta uma abordagem quantitativa de caráter descritivo. Foram selecionados 3 pontos para realizar coleta das águas duas vezes no mês na zona urbana do município durante 12 meses. A concentração de flúor foi obtida pela média das três leituras das amostras analisadas para cada ponto de coleta e classificadas conforme critério proposto pelo Centro Colaborador do Ministério da Saúde em Vigilância da Saúde Bucal. Resultado Segundo o critério utilizado (0,55 - 0,84 mg/L F), apenas 9,7% das amostras estavam dentro do considerado ideal. Conclusão Observou-se que a fluoretação das águas nesse município foi interrompida, pois muitas amostras de água apresentaram níveis de flúor abaixo dos valores mínimos aceitáveis.