Sociodemographic, biological and behavioural risk factors associated with incidence of dental caries in schoolchildren's first permanent molars: a 3-year follow-up study.

AIM: This was to investigate the incidence of dental caries on the occlusal surface of the first permanent molars of schoolchildren, and also the associated sociodemographic, behavioural and biological risk factors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A three-year longitudinal study on dental caries of the occlusal surface of the first permanent molars was carried out in 224 children between 9 and 11 years of age, from two public schools in Brazil. Sociodemographic, behavioural and biological risk factors were correlated with the dental caries incidence. Data collection involved dental examination and a structured questionnaire. The dependent variable was the occurrence of carious lesion. Independent variables were (baseline): age, sex, previous dental treatment, tooth brushing frequency, fluoride history of use, monthly family income, mother's education level, caries experience, visible dental plaque, and the eruption stage of the teeth in question.

RESULTS: Statistics revealed a 25.4% occurrence of dental caries on the occlusal surface of the first permanent molars. The presence of visible dental plaque and history of caries (baseline) were considered risk factors for the presence of carious lesions in the examined teeth (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION: Dental caries on the occlusal surface of first permanent molars was associated with a history of dental caries and presence of dental plaque on the teeth in question in the first phase of the study.