Children’s Evasion in a Public Program of Early Dental Attention

Abstract

In order to evaluate children’s oral health related to frequency in a public program of dental attention early, this research conducted a study retrospective cohort which reached 252 assessment children, between 36 and 60 months of age, in the city of Gurupi, Legal Amazon region, Brazil. Three groups of children were analyzed: G1: effective participants of the program since birth; G2: children no longer participate for more than 24 months of the program, and a control group G3: children who never participated in prevention project. The evaluation was conducted in two stages: interview mothers and clinical examination in children for analysis of caries, gingivitis, and malocclusion. The index of caries in deciduous teeth (dmft) presented different data between groups G1 = 0.05, G2 = 1.96 and G3 was 3.30. Oral diseases were statistically more common in children who have never attended an oral health program (p = 0.025). The main reason cited by 54% of mothers who have left the program, was the oblivion of the scheduled day. Thus, children who effectively attended the oral health program showed the best results in relation to caries, gingivitis, and malocclusion, when compared to those who have left or have never participated.