Pattern of caries experience in a 12-year-old Brazilian population related to socioeconomic background

The aim of this work was to study the pattern of DMFT, DMFS, and DMFS components in groups of poor (91) and rich (89) 12-year-old children in Porto Alegre, Brazil. The results showed similar DMFT scores for the groups; however, the poor had a higher DMFS score than the rich. Filled surfaces comprised 96% (rich) and 50% (poor) of the DMFS values, and caries experience for the first molars were similar in the groups. Prevalence of interproximal caries was higher among the poor. It is concluded that the unequal access to dental care in the two populations may have influenced the DMFT values and concealed differences in the true disease experience.