Pediatric Cariology: A Global Public Health Perspective

Objective: This study examined the prevalence of untreated dental caries in Honduras among children 5- 13 years of age living in Honduras. Methods: In collaboration with local nongovernmental organization and teachers, we conducted oral exams on 214 children at schools in three villages. Baseline prevalence of caries was expressed using clinical indices of DMFS (decayed, missing, filled), DMFT and dmft, dmfs for permanent and primary teeth respectively. After the exam all children received one application of fluoride varnish which was applied by the research team and teachers. Results: Caries prevalence; defined as at least one decayed tooth surface, varied by village with a range of 68-97%. Aggregate mean DMFS score per tooth surface for permanent teeth was 1.88. The aggregate mean dmfs score per tooth surface for primary teeth was 7.04. Conclusion: Caries prevalence among school age children is very high in Honduras. Access to evidence based public health measures including salt and water fluoridation is limited. Fluoride varnish, a low cost and easy to use form of prevention shows some promise. More studies are needed to establish a more consistent therapeutic value of fluoride varnish as form of caries treatment in high risk caries populations with limited access to care.