Oral health of riverine rural populations in a municipality of Amazonas: DMFT index and self-perception.

The present study aimed to understand the self-perception of oral health and evaluate the DMFT (Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth) index among riverside residents in the Careiro da Várzea municipality, state of Amazonas, accessed through voluntary health actions. Employing an exploratory and descriptive approach with non-probabilistic sampling, 84 participants were evaluated, predominantly female (57%) and aged between 12 and 80 years. Although most are engaged in oral health programs, approximately half encounter difficulties in accessing dental care. Nonetheless, a majority deem it essential to visit the dentist biannually, with toothache being the primary reason for such visits. Self-perception varied, with 35.7% rating their oral health as "mean" and 40.5% as "good". However, the high mean score (8.4) on the DMFT exam reveals a discrepancy in the oral health of riverside residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]