Dental caries spectrum profile in Brazilian public school children and adolescents

Dental caries remains a major public health problem, with higher prevalence among in adolescence. The present study aimed to assess the dental spectrum profile children and adolescents Brazilian schools. A cross-sectional was performed two schools Brazil examine permanent teeth of adolescents. were assessed by applying Caries Assessment Spectrum Treatment (CAST) instrument, results distributed as per disease status (healthy/codes 0–2; pre-morbidity/code 3; morbidity/code 4–5; severe morbidity/codes 6–7; mortality/code 8) severity CAST-F1 formula (no severity, mild, moderate, severe). CAST data described age groups (8–9 y, 10–11 12–13 14–15 16–17 18–19 y). Kruskal–Wallis test used investigate differences (p < 0.05). Total 598 students enrolled. Most subjects male (53.34%) belonged group y (34.95%). variables 0/1 = 0.024), 0.029) showed significant groups, post hoc these (CAST 0/1, p 0.047; CAST, CAST-F1, 0.033). increased from 8 19 peak middle