ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify dental caries protection factors in 5-year-old children in the city of Curitiba, Brazil. METHODS: This case-controlled study was based on secondary data obtained from electronic medical records of 5-year-old children using Curitiba's municipal health service in 2005. Independent variables included those related to the child and his or her family context. The association between variables was studied by chi-squared, Fisher's exact, and Mann-Whitney's tests and multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: Caries experience was slightly associated with nutritional state, preschool experience (if the child regularly attended a preschool), and mother's age and education level. Multiple logistic regression confirmed most bivariate associations. Children who had normal weight (odds ratio [OR]=2.23; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.04, 4.80) or who were overweight (OR=2.74; 95% CI=1.15, 6.53), did not go to preschool (OR=1.59; 95% CI=1.05, 2.41), and whose mothers were at least 26 years old (OR=1.62; 95% CI=1.14, 2.30) had a greater probability of being caries-free. CONCLUSION: Normal or overweight children who did not attend preschool and whose mothers were at least 26 years old had a greater probability of being caries-free.
