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- Title
Oral hygiene practices, dental service use and oral health self-perception of schoolchildren from a rural zone in the Brazilian Northeast region.
- Authors
de Menezes, Valdenice Aparecida; Falcão Lorena, Rachel Pollyana; Barbosa Rocha, Liliane Cristina; Falcão Leite, Angéllica; Soares Ferreira, Jainara Maria; Granville-Garcia, Ana Flavia
- Abstract
Purpose: To evaluate the oral hygiene practices, use of dental services and self-perception of oral health of school children from the rural areas of the city of Caruaru, PE, in the Northeast region of Brazil. Methods: An exploratory cross-sectional study was carried out using interviews with structured questionnaires aimed at students aged between 6 and 12 years (n=150). Demographic and socio-economic data on oral hygiene practices, the use of dental services and self-perception of oral health were collected and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (chi-square and Fisher's exact tests). Results: Most of the students cleaned their teeth (82.0%) with toothpaste (98.0%), a toothbrush available at the market (93.2%) and dental floss (26.4%). All students (150) had a toothbrush, the majority (86.7%) for individual use, and performed three or more daily brushings (56.4%). A significant portion had visited the dentist (72.7%) due to the need for treatment (57.8%) and toothache (33.0%). Among those who had never been to the dentist, fear (36.6%) was the main reason. The majority (56.0%) considered their teeth to be in good condition. Conclusion: Despite the low socio-economic status of the evaluated population, changes in oral hygiene practices and the demand for dental care were observed.
- Subjects
CARUARU (Brazil); BRAZIL; ORAL hygiene; DENTAL care; CHILDREN'S health; CROSS-sectional method; SOCIAL status; TOOTH care &; hygiene; DEMOGRAPHIC surveys
- Publication
Revista Odonto Ciencia, 2010, Vol 25, Issue 1, p25
- ISSN
0102-9460
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1590/S1980-65232010000100006