Noro, Luiz Roberto AugustoRoncalli, Angelo GiuseppeMendes Júnior, Francisco Ivan RodriguesLima, Kenio Costa de2017-02-022017-02-022009NORO, Luiz Roberto Augusto et al. Incidência de cárie dentária em adolescentes em município do Nordeste brasileiro, 2006. Cadernos de Saúde Pública, v. 25, n. 4, p. 783-790, 2009.https://repositorio.ufrn.br/jspui/handle/123456789/21851The main objective of this study was to evaluate the incidence of tooth decay in adolescents, associated with socioeconomic status, access to services, and self-perceived oral health. This was a longitudinal study using an epidemiological survey of dental caries and a structured questionnaire with a sample of 688 adolescents residing in Sobral, Ceará State, Brazil. Incidence increased progressively with age, from 1.60 at 12 years of age to 2.28 at 15, with a mean incidence of 1.86 decayed teeth per adolescent. Among the study variables, tooth pain in the previous six months [RR = 1.46 (1.22-1.76)], school lunch [RR = 1.45 (1.21-1.74)], frequency of dental appointments [RR = 1.48 (1.33-1.79)], and access to the Health Service [RR = 1.21 (1.01-1.45)], adjusted by perceived need for treatment, were associated with high caries incidence. It is essential for health professionals and health system managers to formulate public policies that are not limited merely to clinical and preventive aspects, encouraging the population to struggle for better living conditions and allowing equitable access to services and developing collective management of health actions.Acesso AbertoCárie DentáriaAdolescenteSaúde BucalDental CariesAdolescentOral Healtharticle