SENA, L. S. B.; http://lattes.cnpq.br/4904421917738131; SENA, Luana Samara Balduino de.
Resumo:
Dental caries is a communicable disease, infectious and diet dependent and their occurrence
in schoolchildren is still high, being also considered the main problem of oral health of
Brazilians. In Brazil, two realities are present in childhood: malnutrition, causing changes in
growth and development and increased susceptibility to infections, and obesity, which
represents a risk factor for chronic non-communicable diseases. The study aimed to evaluate
the influence of nutritional status on dental caries in schoolchildren aged 8 to 10 years old,
from municipal schools in the city of Patos-PB. The sample consisted of 384 children enrolled
in public schools in Patos-PB. Data collection was performed by a calibrated researcher
(Kappa = 0.84) using the ICDAS criteria, nutritional status was assessed by Body Mass Index.
Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS program and the chi-square test. The
prevalence of caries was 89.6%. According to the ICDAS, the most frequent injuries were the
score 6 (43.7%) in teething deciduous, and score 2 (51.2%) in the permanent. There was a
statistically significant association between body composition and the presence of dental
caries (p = 0.04), so children with malnutrition to normal weight had 1.19 times more likely to
develop the disease than others. It could be concluded that the caries experience in these
children proved to be very high, and even checked above national expectations and the
nutritional status was shown to have influence on tooth decay.
