Resumo

MURRIETA-PRUNEDA, José Francisco et al. Gingivitis prevalence associated to oral hygiene, familiar income, and time passed since the last dental appointment in a group of Mexican adolescents. Bol. Med. Hosp. Infant. Mex. [online]. 2008, vol.65, n.5, pp.367-375. ISSN 1665-1146.

Introduction. Gingivitis is considered the more common pathology among periodontal diseases. The purpose of the present survey was to evaluate the possible influence of familiar income, oral hygiene and time passed since the last dental appointment on gingivitis prevalence in adolescents. Methods. A population of 677 adolescents was surveyed. For the epidemiological data collection, the criteria of the Green & Vermillion Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S) and the Löe & Sillness' Gingival Index (GI) were considered with a previous inter-and intra-searchers calibration (S1 =0.95, S2=0.96, and S1-2 =0.90). Results. Gingivitis was found in 83% of adolescents; mild gingivitis was the most frequently observed. Severity of gingivitis was associated to socioeconomic level and oral hygiene quality; whereas not association was found with age, sex and frequency of dental appointments. Conclusions. The high frequency of gingivitis and poor quality of oral hygiene indicate a great need for education in oral health in adolescents.

Palavras-chave : Gingivitis; adolescence; periodontal index; oral hygiene; prevalence.