RESUMO
PURPOSE: To assess the damage and the prevalence of caries and fluorosis in children and adolescents in the metropolitan area after 8 years of drinking water fluoridation and to compare them with the baseline study. METHODS: This was a prevalence study. The sample was selected using two-step probability sampling and stratified according to socioeconomic level. Subjects included 2,323 schoolchildren aged 6 to 8 years and 12 years living within the metropolitan region. The parents of all students provided consent and were previously included in the study. The subjects were clinically examined by calibrated dentists, who used World Health Organization (WHO) screening criteria and indicators to determine the presence of caries and dental fluorosis. RESULTS: No cavity damage was found in 23.68 percent of the children. The average dmft was 3.18 for children aged 6 to 8 years. The DMFT was 0.59 in children aged 6 to 8 years and 2.6 in children 12 years compared with the baseline study. These differences were statistically significant. There were also significant differences in the DMFT index for each socioeconomic status group. The average number of dams was higher among children of low socioeconomic status. Of the studied children, 14.3 percent of children had dental fluorosis. Fluorosis was very mild in 12.35 percent of the cases, mild in 1.98 percent and moderate in 0.26 percent. There were no cases of severe fluorosis (classified according to Dean's index). CONCLUSION: We conclude that after 8 years drinking water fluoridation in the metropolitan area, the number of children with no history of caries has increased by approximately 100 percent. The number of cases significantly affected by caries has also decreased significantly. The incidence of dental fluorosis has increased, but to milder degrees.
OBJETIVO: Avaliar o dano e a prevalência de cárie e fluorose em crianças e adolescentes na região metropolitana do Chile, após oito anos de fluoretação da água potável, em comparação com o estudo de base em 1996. METODOLOGIA: Desenho: estudo de prevalência. A amostra probabilística, estratificada por nível socioeconômico, constituiu-se de 2.323 escolares de 6-8 e 12 anos na Região Metropolitana. Todos os alunos foram clinicamente examinados por dentistas calibrados, utilizando critérios de seleção e indicadores propostos pela OMS para determinar cárie e fluorose dentária. RESULTADOS: Cerca de 24 por cento das crianças estavam livres de cáries. A média de CPOD foi de 3,18 em escolares de 6 a 8 anos. O CPOD foi de 0,59 em crianças de 6 a 8 anos e de 2,6 em crianças de 12 anos em relação ao estudo de base, sendo essas diferenças estatisticamente significativas. Houve diferenças significativas devido ao nível socioeconômico, sendo que os valores médios foram maiores em crianças de baixo nível socioeconômico. Cerca de 14 por cento das crianças apresentaram fluorose dentária, em geral de grau muito leve. CONCLUSÃO: Após 8 anos de fluoretação da água potável na região metropolitana, observou-se um aumento de 100 por cento de crianças sem história de cárie e significativa diminuição de danos. A fluorose dentária aumentou, mas em graus mais leves.
