Letícia Vargas Freire Martins Lemos1, Angela Cristina Cilense Zuanon2, Silvio Issáo Myaki3, Luiz Reynaldo de Figueiredo Walter4. 1. Pediatric Dentistry of School of Dentistry of Araraquara, Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho" - UNESP, Araraquara, SP, BR. 2. Department of Child Care, School of Dentistry of Araraquara, Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho" - UNESP, Araraquara, SP, BR. 3. Department of Social Dentistry and Child Care, School of Dentistry of São José dos Campos, Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho" - UNESP, São José dos Campos, SP, BR. 4. Universidade Estadual de Londrina - UEL, Londrina, PR, BR.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of the "Dentistry for Infants" early dental care program run by Jacareí County (SP) by comparing the caries of individuals participating and not participating in this program. METHODS: In total, 300 children between 0 and 48 months old were assessed in the following two groups: infants not participating in the program (G1, n = 100) and infants participating in the program (G2, n = 200). Each group was further divided according to age in subgroups of 0 to 24 months and 25 to 48 months. All children were clinically assessed for carious lesions using the visual-tactile method. The data were statistically analyzed using a paired Student's t-test, Mann-Whitney test, and χ2 test at a 5% significance level. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in the prevalence (P) and mean index of deciduous teeth (deft) (C) that were decayed, indicated for extraction and filled, and the highest values were observed in G1 (p < 0.0001). The values were as follows: PG1, 73%; PG2, 22%; CG1, 3.45 ± 3.84; and CG2, 0.66 ± 1.57. CONCLUSION: Participating in the program positively impacted the infants' oral health.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of the "Dentistry for Infants" early dental care program run by Jacareí County (SP) by comparing the caries of individuals participating and not participating in this program. METHODS: In total, 300 children between 0 and 48 months old were assessed in the following two groups: infants not participating in the program (G1, n = 100) and infants participating in the program (G2, n = 200). Each group was further divided according to age in subgroups of 0 to 24 months and 25 to 48 months. All children were clinically assessed for carious lesions using the visual-tactile method. The data were statistically analyzed using a paired Student's t-test, Mann-Whitney test, and χ2 test at a 5% significance level. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in the prevalence (P) and mean index of deciduous teeth (deft) (C) that were decayed, indicated for extraction and filled, and the highest values were observed in G1 (p < 0.0001). The values were as follows: PG1, 73%; PG2, 22%; CG1, 3.45 ± 3.84; and CG2, 0.66 ± 1.57. CONCLUSION: Participating in the program positively impacted the infants' oral health.