Objective: to determine the caries prevalence through the dmft and DMFT in Robinson Crusoe island school children.
Methods: all of the children aged 6 (n = 79) and 12 (n = 86) living in the Island were clinically examined. 54.6 % were male and 45.4 % female. The examination was carried out by only one trained and calibrated examiner (Kappa 0.80) in the local health centre. Caries were diagnosed using the current World Health Organization (WHO) criteria.
Results: No differences were found between genders. The dmft average for 6 year-old children was 2.92 ± 3.504. 50.63 % was caries free, and 34.18 % caries free experience. The DMFT index for 12 years-old children was 2.349 ± 2.13. 73% caries free and 30.23 % caries free experience. There weren’t any children with lost or extracted teeth. A significant minor caries prevalence has been observed comparing it with the national index (x2=19.47; gl 1; p≤ 0.0001).
Conclusions dental caries prevalence in 6 and 12 years of Robinson Crusoe Island population is significantly less than the national mean and a high percentage of caries free children are registered, probably due to the control, prevention and early treatment programs existing since 1999. Grant UCHILEMULT 05/0502