Clinical Consequences of Untreated Dental Caries in Young Children - An Evaluative Study

To determine the prevalence of the clinical consequences of untreated dental caries using pulpal involvement, ulceration, fistula, and abscess (PUFA) index in 3-to 6-year-old children.

Observational, cross-sectional and descriptive study. The sample of the study population consisted of 113 selected children who live in a low-income district of Perú. Dental Caries status was assessed using the decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index and the PUFA index was used to assess the clinical consequences of untreated dental caries. The normality test was applied to the numerical variables, and no normal distribution was found. Therefore, the Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis test were used to determine the association between the PUFA index and the sex and age of the children. A Chi-square test was also employed to assess the association between the PUFA index and dental caries. Statistical significance was inferred at P < 0.05.

The prevalence of caries was 70% and the prevalence of PUFA was 21%; The PUFA prevalence of the 5-year-old children was 8.75%, the 4-year-old and 6-year-old children had a 5.25%, and the 3-year-old group, 1.75%. No statistically significant difference was found between the prevalence of PUFA and the age group ( P = 0.6). The general PUFA index was 0.03 ± 0.07. No statistically significant association was found between the prevalence of caries ( P = 0.552) and the PUFA index ( P = 0.699). No significant association was found between the PUFA index and the gender of the children ( P = 0.203).

The prevalence of dental caries and clinical consequences of untreated dental caries using PUFA in this study was high, however no association was found between them. Within the PUFA index, the pulpitis component had a greater presence, negatively affecting oral health, which will affect the different areas of the child's life.