Figure 2.
Variables assessed, their description, the instrument used and the scores of each variable according to severity
| Variable | Description | Instrument used | Scores | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caries experience | dmft was considered higher or lower than average in relation to the age of the patient | dmft | Minimum | Maximum | ||
| 0 | 9 | 11 | 13 | |||
| Related diseases | Parents were asked if children presented diseases related to dental caries, such as asthma or others | Questionnaire | 0 | 2 | 4 | |
| Sugar consumption | Parents were asked about the consumption of fermentable carbohydrates | Questionnaire | 0 | 5 | 13 | 20 |
| Frequency of food consumption | Parents were asked about childrens' diets - the quantity of meals/snacks consumed per day | Questionnaire | 0 | 5 | 13 | 20 |
| Oral hygiene | Visible Plaque Index | Visible plaque index | 0 | 4 | 8 | 15 |
| Fluoride Sources | Parents were asked about fluoride availability | Questionnaire | 0 | 5 | 10 | 50 |
| Salivary flow | Suspicion of hyposalivation | Clinical Examination | 0 | 2 | 5 | 40 |
dmft=decayed, missing, filled teeth