Evaluation of a program of oral health promotion in public daycare centers: Longitudinal study

Objective: To evaluate the oral health of children who participated in a preventive/educational program applied in eight years before. Methods: The study was conducted for 12 months in public day care centers. Children were located by telephone for clinical examinations (DMFT, caries white spot), dental erosion index (BEWE) and filling a questionnaire. Data were analyzed using chi-square and t-student tests, with 5% significance level. Results: 33 children with a mean age of 10.5±1.3 years were recovered, the majority being female (54.5%, n=18). Considering the caries activity in 2011, there was no statistically significant difference regarding age, sex, average family income, frequency of brushing per day and presence of cariogenic diet (p>0.05). The mean ±SD of CEO (2003) and DMFT (2011) was 1.97±2.37, there being statistical difference (p<0.05). For night hygiene, it was observed that most performed brushing before sleeping and had no dental caries in 2011 (73.7%, p=0.02). Considering the presence of dental erosion in permanent teeth, there was association with erosive diet (soft drinks and juices) (p=0.001). Conclusion: The preventive/education program performed in 2003 was effective, since most of children remains without tooth decay.