Prevalence of dental caries in the first permanent molar and associated risk factors among sixth-grade students in Sao Tome Island.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Dental caries is one of the most preventable oral diseases among children in developing countries. This study aims to estimate the prevalence and severity of dental caries in the first permanent molar and analyze the related risk factors among sixth-grade students in São Tomé Island.

Methods

A cross-sectional study with a stratified cluster sampling method was conducted on 1855 sixth-grade school children, mainly aged 11 to 14 years old, from 10 schools in 6 regions of São Tomé Island, from April 17 to June 27, 2021. Dental caries examination was performed by using the CAST criteria (DMFT) index, and the self-administered questionnaires about family background, oral hygiene, and relevant behaviors were collected. Multivariable logistic regression was used to study

SUBMITTER: Que L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8479893 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature