Fatores clínicos e sociodemográficos associados à presença de lesões de cárie cavitadas em primeiro molar permanente de crianças com dentição mista

Abstract

Dental caries is a dynamic, multifactorial disease mediated by dental biofilm, influenced by diet, and determined by behavioral, socioeconomic, environmental, and biological factors. It is considered a public health issue, as it remains one of the most common chronic diseases, particularly among socially vulnerable populations. The permanent first molar is the tooth most commonly affected by carious lesions, often leading to its early loss. Thus, the objective of this research was to evaluate the prevalence of children with cavitated carious lesions in their permanent first molars and to establish the clinical, sociodemographic, and behavioral factors associated with this condition. This is a retrospective cross-sectional study based on the analysis of medical records of children aged 5 to 12 years who were treated at the Pediatric Dentistry clinics of the undergraduate Dentistry program at the Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Campus Governador Valadares (UFJF-GV). The sampling was convenience-based, including only medical records of children with mixed dentition and without systemic alterations. Sociodemographic information, oral health habits, dietary diaries, and clinical examinations were analyzed. The dependent variable was the presence of cavitated carious lesions in permanent first molars, while independent variables included factors such as the education level of the guardian, oral hygiene practices, and previous caries experience. The data were organized using SPSS software version 24.0 and analyzed with descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and Fisher's exact test (p < 0.05), in addition to unadjusted and adjusted Poisson regression. It was observed that 77 children (28%) had at least one permanent first molar with a cavitated carious lesion. In the adjusted Poisson regression analysis, it was found that age (8 to 10 years [RP: 2.080 IC: 1.158-3.737 p=0.014] and 11 to 12 years [RP: 2.394 IC: 1.278-4.484 p=0.006]), low education level of the guardian (<9 years of schooling [RP: 2.110 IC: 1.310-4.318 p=0.041]), duration of bottle use (children who used a bottle for more than 24 months [RP: 6.301; IC: 1.926-20.610; p=0.002]), and the presence of untreated cavitated carious lesions in primary teeth (RP: 2.208 IC: 1.211-4.025 p=0.010) were variables associated with a higher prevalence of carious lesions in permanent first molars. It can be concluded that the prevalence of children with cavitated carious lesions in permanent first molars was considered high, and this prevalence was greater in older children, those whose 6guardians had lower educational attainment, those who used a bottle for more than two years, and those presenting untreated carious lesions in primary teeth.