Primary dental care indicators: Association with socioeconomic status, dental care, water fluoridation and family health program in southern Brazil

Abstract

This paper analyzed the primary dental care indicators of the Brazilian National Health System (SUS) considering coverage of dental care, ratio between dental extraction and dental procedures, and coverage of preventive measures among children up to 14 years-old in the municipalities from the southern region of Brazil (n=1,159) between the years 2000 and 2005. In addition, the association of these indicators with socio-economic indicators, dental care, water fluoridation and coverage of oral health care by the Family Health Program (FHP) was tested. The increase in the coverage of dental care was positively associated with the percentage of rural population, Human Development Index (HDI), number of dentists per capita, and FHP coverage. Dental extraction was negatively associated with percentage of rural population, HDI, number of dentists per capita, and FHP coverage, and positively associated with the Gini index. Preventive dental care measures were negatively associated with the Gini index, poverty and number of dentists per capita, and positively associated with the percentage of rural population, HDI, and FHP coverage.