[Study of caries risk using a combined mother-child index]

Because of its high prevalence, dental caries represents an important health problem. Risk factors involved in the development of cavities may be classified as biological, mechanical and cultural. In the latter, it is important to highlight the transmittal of hygiene and dietary habits within the family. A crosscut study was undertaken over 46 families chosen at random from Tlalpan, a suburban area in Mexico City. Education-linked aspects as they relate to buccal and dental health in the adult are stressed, since situations of parents seem to be reproduced in their children, with consequently positive or negative health results.