PURPOSE: The influence of early dental care on the prevalence of dental caries was determined in children ages 35 to 40 months divided into 2 groups of 160 children each, with 1 group participating in a dental care program from the first year of life to the time of the study, while the other group did not receive any dental care. METHODS: The clinical conditions considered for the evaluation were: sound teeth, enamel caries without cavitation, enamel caries with cavitation, and dentinal caries. The proportion and chi-square tests were used for statistical analysis with the level of significance set at 5%. RESULTS: A significant difference regarding the presence of dental caries, especially in the number of children presenting enamel caries with cavitation (P < .0001), was observed between the 2 groups. The number of children with enamel caries without cavitation and dentinal caries was similar for the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the aspect of dental caries prevention, the authors concluded that children in the age range of 3 to 4 years who received early dental care showed better oral conditions.
PURPOSE: The influence of early dental care on the prevalence of dental caries was determined in children ages 35 to 40 months divided into 2 groups of 160 children each, with 1 group participating in a dental care program from the first year of life to the time of the study, while the other group did not receive any dental care. METHODS: The clinical conditions considered for the evaluation were: sound teeth, enamel caries without cavitation, enamel caries with cavitation, and dentinal caries. The proportion and chi-square tests were used for statistical analysis with the level of significance set at 5%. RESULTS: A significant difference regarding the presence of dental caries, especially in the number of children presenting enamel caries with cavitation (P < .0001), was observed between the 2 groups. The number of children with enamel caries without cavitation and dentinal caries was similar for the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the aspect of dental caries prevention, the authors concluded that children in the age range of 3 to 4 years who received early dental care showed better oral conditions.
Authors: Luiz Evaristo Ricci Volpato; Dafna Geller Palti; Jose Eduardo de Oliveira Lima; Maria Aparecida de Andrade Moreira Machado; Andreza Maria Fabio Aranha; Matheus Coelho Bandeca; Fabio Luis Miranda Pedro; Alvaro Henrique Borges Journal: J Int Oral Health Date: 2013-08-28