TOOTH LOSS IN ADOLESCENTS FROM A PUBLIC INSTITUTION

Abstract

The progression of dental caries in children and adolescents can lead to tooth loss, which can cause aesthetic, functional, psychological and social damage. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of tooth loss in adolescents in the city of Fortaleza, Ceará. This is a descriptive, observational, cross-sectional, quantitative study, having as its population 59 adolescents from a school in Fortaleza (CE). Data were collected by means of oral exams and questionnaire, tabulated in Microsoft Excel 2010 and statistically analyzed using SPSS 22.0 software. Pearson's chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were used with a 5% significance level. The prevalence of tooth loss was 28.8%, with no significant difference between genders and brushing frequency. The maxillary second molars (teeth 17 and 27) were the most affected (16.67% and 13.3%, respectively). There was an association between tooth loss and dental surgeon visits. The prevalence of tooth loss was high when compared to the last national epidemiological survey, and it was not influenced by gender nor by the frequency of brushing, but the tooth loss was associated with the visit to the dentist.