Prevalencia de caries en población escolar con dentición mixta.

Abstract

Dental caries is the localized destruction of dental hard tissues by acidic byproducts of bacterial fermentation of free sugars. It is a disease of a chronic and progressive nature. Therefore, although it affects individuals in early life, it will be a condition that has consequences throughout adolescence, adulthood, and old age. The objective was to know the prevalence of caries in the school population with mixed dentition. This was a systematic review in which eight cross-sectional studies were included. Regardless of the type of dentition, caries continues to be the main oral health problem, with a high prevalence. It is reported that in children between six and 12 years the prevalence exceeds 70%. Risk factors are the presence of microorganisms capable of colonizing the dental surface and initiating the carious process, as well as the consumption of a cariogenic diet. It is important to promote healthy behaviors to prevent cavities. And if there is already a carious lesion, it must be treated in its incipient stage to prevent its progression from affecting quality of life and premature dental loss, since the latter would generate malocclusion problems.