Factors Associated with Dental Caries Prevalence Among Socially Vulnerable Children

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between socioeconomic factors and the oral health status (OHS) of children in socially vulnerable situations assisted by a prominent nongovernmental organization in Fortaleza, Ceará state, Brazil. This is a cross-sectional observational study with a quantitative approach. One hundred children aged 5 to 6 years were included. Most children (n = 71, 71%) had dental caries. Only access to running water showed a statistically significant difference (p = 0.005) in relation to the level of dental pain. Correlations were tested through multiple linear regression analysis, revealing that the number of rooms in the home (p = 0.023) and family income (p = 0.022) were predictors of the DMFT index. Access to running water (p = 0.001) and the DMFT index (p = 0.010) were predictors of the level of pain. Children in situations of social vulnerability have a higher prevalence of dental caries associated with socioeconomic factors. It is essential that continuous strategies for promotion and prevention in oral public health be renewed to monitor children's development and growth.