- V M Casas Ainoza: Clínica Dental Dr. Casas Ainoza, Huesca.
OBJECTIVE: To study dental hygiene habits and their relationship to dental caries.
DESIGN: A descriptive epidemiological crossover study, based on observation. SITE. Schools in the city of Huesca.
PATIENTS: Every child in the 7th grade (i.e. 12 years old) of Basic General Education (EGB) in the city of Huesca.
MAIN MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: We found that only 43.83% of the children (689 in all: 340 male, 349 female) brushed their teeth every day. 49.20% had had a dental check-up during the previous year. We noted a significant link between cariogenic factors, especially those to do with tooth-brushing and the consumption of sweets, and the actual existence of caries.
CONCLUSIONS: There was a notable lack of dental hygiene, both around the questions of using a tooth-brush and in eating habits. There was little primary (the use of fluorides or dental hygiene) or secondary prevention (programmes of odonto-stomatologic care).