RESUMEN Objetivo: Calcular la prevalencia de caries y los factores relacionados en la poblacion escolar de 12 anos del municipio de Copacabana. Materiales y metodos: Estudio de prevalencia analitico, con una muestra de 483 adolescentes de 12 anos escolarizados del municipio. Se evaluaron variables sociodemograficas y de practicas en salud oral. Se realizo la valoracion de la cavidad bucal y el calculo del indice COP de acuerdo a las recomendaciones del Ministerio de Salud. Se realizo un analisis univariado, bivariado y calculo de OR. Resultados: El 51% corresponden a hombres, 77.8% viven en la zona urbana, 56.5% pertenecen al estrato 2 y 63.6% pertenecen al regimen contributivo. El 41.8% cambia el cepillo cada 30 dias. El 81.4% utiliza seda dental, con un uso ocasional por el 41.6% de los estudiantes. La prevalencia de caries fue mayor en hombres con 53.6% en zona rural con 60.5%, en estrato 1 con 65.4% y en regimen subsidiado con 57.2%. El indice COP tradicional fue de 1.26 y el modificado de 0.99. La zona de residencia urbana (OR 0.59 IC95% 0.38-0.92) y la frecuencia de cambio de cepillo menor a 90 dias (OR 0.54 IC95% 0.30-0.97) se identificaron como factores protectores. Conclusion: Los adolescentes escolarizados del municipio de Copacabana presentan una prevalencia menor en la experiencia de caries, lo mismo que un COP tradicional y modificado inferior a lo reportado por otros estudios. Se resalta la importancia de fortalecer habitos de salud oral como el uso de seda dental, control del consumo de azucares y la visita regular al odontologo. Palabras clave: Caries dental, indice COP, prevalencia. SUMMARY Objective: Calculate the prevalence of caries and related factors in schoolchildren from 12 years in the municipality of Copacabana. Materials and methods: Cross sectional study, with a sample of 483 adolescents. Sociodemographic and practice in oral health variables were evaluated. Oral and evaluation DMF index according to the recommendations of the Ministry of Health was conducted. Univariate, bivariate analysis and OR calculation was performed. Results: 51% were men, 77.8% live in urban areas, 56.5% belong to stratum 2 and 63.6% belong to the contributory scheme. 41.8% change the toohtbrush every 30 days. 81.4% use dental floss with occasional use by 41.6% of students. Caries prevalence was higher in men with 53.6%, in rural area with 60.5%, in stratum 1 with 65.4% and subsidized scheme with 57.2%. The traditional DMF index was 1.26 and the modified was 0.99. The urban area of residence (OR 0.59 IC95% 0.38 to 0.92) and frequency upshift toohtbrush at 90 days (OR 0.54 IC95% 0.30 to 0.97) were identified as protective factors. Conclusion: Adolescents from the town of Copacabana present a lower prevalence in caries experience, as well as a traditional and modified DMF index lower than that reported by other studies. The importance of strengthening oral health habits such as flossing, control sugar intake and regular visits to the dentist is highlighted. Key words: Dental caries, DMF index, prevalence.