Moimaz, Suzely Adas Saliba [UNESP]Borges, Heloisa Carvalho [UNESP]Saliba, Orlando [UNESP]Garbin, Cléa Adas Saliba [UNESP]Saliba, Nemre Adas [UNESP]2018-12-112018-12-112016-01-01Oral Health and Preventive Dentistry, v. 14, n. 1, p. 77-83, 2016.1757-99961602-1622http://hdl.handle.net/11449/173055Purpose: To investigate the association between sociobehavioural variables and the pattern and severity of early childhood caries in Brazilian infants and toddlers ages 0-3 years. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with 768 children who attended 58 public nursery schools. Five previously calibrated teams (Kappa = 0.842) performed oral examinations, using the decayed, missing, filled teeth (dmft) index according to the WHO methodology. A pretested, self-administered questionnaire was given to the subjects' parents or guardians to obtain sociobehavioural information. Results: Caries was observed in 134 of the 768 (17%) children. Caries and rampant caries were significantly more prevalent in low-income families (p = 0.0121) and the incidence of caries was associated with access to dental services (p < 0.05). The percentages of children who were caries free in the age groups of 0-11 months, 12-23 months, 24-35 months and 36-47 months were 100%, 96%, 88% and 76%, respectively. Conclusion: Programmes for prevention and oral health education should be instituted, preferably during the first year of life, especially for those in the most socioeconomically deprived groups.77-83engDental cariesEpidemiologyPrimary dentitionArtigo10.3290/j.ohpd.a34997Acesso restrito2-s2.0-849734097959807879196081999248228870563151244191585257096860000-0003-1439-41970000-0001-5069-8812