OBJECTIVE: Buccodental health is a problem of high prevalence, including mainly caries, malocclusion and malposition. Dental caries is the principal oral problem of childhood and adolescence. The objective of our study was to know the information, customs and attitudes in relationship to buccodental hygiene of preadolescent and adolescent students. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The design is a cross-sectional epidemiological study of two urban (n = 330 students) and two rural (n = 270 students) schools. We performed an individual interview with the students that included 27 items concerning knowledge, customs and attitudes about buccodental hygiene. RESULTS: The prevalence of caries is 24.5% in our population. We found the best buccodental hygiene in rural students and girls. The adolescents are more problematic than preadolescents. CONCLUSION: It is important to make health examinations and to have health education in school, especially concerning some pathologies with a higher prevalence such as dental caries and other buccodental diseases. The first step towards good health education is to know the reality of the problem. A higher level of sanitary education in rural schools is most likely the cause for better results in this population. The girls have more conscience of this disease. It is necessary to increase the health education about buccodental hygiene, mainly in adolescence.
OBJECTIVE: Buccodental health is a problem of high prevalence, including mainly caries, malocclusion and malposition. Dental caries is the principal oral problem of childhood and adolescence. The objective of our study was to know the information, customs and attitudes in relationship to buccodental hygiene of preadolescent and adolescent students. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The design is a cross-sectional epidemiological study of two urban (n = 330 students) and two rural (n = 270 students) schools. We performed an individual interview with the students that included 27 items concerning knowledge, customs and attitudes about buccodental hygiene. RESULTS: The prevalence of caries is 24.5% in our population. We found the best buccodental hygiene in rural students and girls. The adolescents are more problematic than preadolescents. CONCLUSION: It is important to make health examinations and to have health education in school, especially concerning some pathologies with a higher prevalence such as dental caries and other buccodental diseases. The first step towards good health education is to know the reality of the problem. A higher level of sanitary education in rural schools is most likely the cause for better results in this population. The girls have more conscience of this disease. It is necessary to increase the health education about buccodental hygiene, mainly in adolescence.