del Socorro Herrera, MiriamMedina-Solis, Carlo EduardoMinaya-Sánchez, MirnaPontigo-Loyola, América PatriciaVillalobos-Rodelo, Juan JoséIslas-Granillo, Horaciode la Rosa-Santillana, RubénMaupomé, Gerardo2022-11-032022-11-032013Herrera MS, Medina Solís CE, Minaya-Sánchez M, Pontigo-Loyola AP, Villalobos-Rodelo JJ, Islas-Granillo H, De la Rosa-Santillana R, Maupomé G. Dental plaque biofilm, preventive care, and tooth brushing associated with dental caries in primary teeth in Nicaraguan schoolchildren ages 6-9 years. 2013; 19:1019-26. Medical Sciences Monitor. United States. doi: 10.12659/MSM.884025https://hdl.handle.net/1805/30453Background: Our study aimed to evaluate the effect of various risk indicators for dental caries on primary teeth of Nicaraguan children (from Leon, Nicaragua) ages 6 to 9, using the negative binomial regression model. Material/Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out to collect clinical, demographic, socioeconomic, and behavioral data from 794 schoolchildren ages 6 to 9 years, randomly selected from 25 schools in the city of León, Nicaragua. Clinical examinations for dental caries (dmft index) were performed by 2 trained and standardized examiners. Socio-demographic, socioeconomic, and behavioral data were self-reported using questionnaires. Multivariate negative binomial regression (NBR) analysis was used. Results: Mean age was 7.49±1.12 years. Boys accounted for 50.1% of the sample. Mean dmft was 3.54±3.13 and caries prevalence (dmft >0) was 77.6%. In the NBR multivariate model (p<0.05), for each year of age, the expected mean dmft decreased by 7.5%. Brushing teeth at least once a day and having received preventive dental care in the last year before data collection were associated with declines in the expected mean dmft by 19.5% and 69.6%, respectively. Presence of dental plaque increased the expected mean dmft by 395.5%. Conclusions: The proportion of students with caries in this sample was high. We found associations between dental caries in the primary dentition and dental plaque, brushing teeth at least once a day, and having received preventive dental care. To improve oral health, school programs and/or age-appropriate interventions need to be developed based on the specific profile of caries experience and the associated risk indicators.en-USAttribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 InternationalOral healthDental cariesSchool childrenPrimary dentitionDental epidemiologyArticle