OVERVIEW OF DENTAL APPOINTMENTS FOR PAIN AND THE CONSUMPTION OF CARIOGENIC FOODS IN CHILDREN FROM PETROLINA, PERNAMBUCO (2019–2024)

Abstract

hildren’s oral health can significantly impact their overall development, influencing not only their physical well-being but also their emotional and social health. This study aims to present the evolution of dental pain consultations for children in primary care in Petrolina-PE between 2019 and 2024, as well as to discuss the effects of cariogenic food consumption on children’s oral health, based on the Annual Food Survey (2019–2022). This is a retrospective study, with data collected from two government information systems: the Food and Nutrition Surveillance System (SISVAN) and the Health Information System for Primary Care (SISAB). The results suggest that the Covid-19 pandemic reduced consultations by approximately 36% in 2020. However, in the following years, dental pain complaints in children increased consecutively, reaching 14,491 visits in 2023. Regarding the Annual Food Survey, from 2019 to 2022, ultra-processed foods were the most consumed category among children in Petrolina, with an annual average rate of 25.75%. The consumption of instant noodles, packaged snacks, or salty crackers showed the greatest increase, rising from 19% in 2019 to 35% in 2022. Therefore, this study highlights the need to reassess municipal public policies focused on children's oral health, emphasizing caries prevention and the promotion of healthy eating habits in the São Francisco Valley region.