Prevalencia de caries dental y tipo de alimentación en niños de 7 a 11 años clínica UCSG 2023.

Abstract

Introduction: Dental cavities are a multifactorial condition originating at the microbiological level. It is a common and chronic disease in children, affecting approximately 60% of the child population worldwide. Objective: Evaluate the knowledge of parents about the prevalence of cavities in type of diet and oral hygiene habits in children from 7 to 11 years of age in the dental clinic from UCGS. Materials and methods: Observational and cross-sectional research with a quantitative approach, descriptive and analytical design, and deductiveinductive method. The following variables were included in a data recording sheet: caries history in children, risk level of cariogenic and non-cariogenic diet, parental knowledge, oral hygiene, age, and gender. The study was made with 80 patients, of which 66 were included in the sample. Results: Of the factors associated with feeding the children, 51.5% of the parents consider their child not receiving the necessary food for their age. The knowledge that parents have in this regard shows that 84.8% believe that eating habits influence the formation of cavities. And 69.7% stated a willingness to learn what types of food are considered non-cariogenic. Conclusion: This research highlighted that most children consume foods high in sugar, and a considerable number of parents feel that their children's diet is inappropriate for their age. A significant prevalence of cavities was found in children from 7 to 11 years old, with the commonness of fillings and extractions.