[Alarming signals: Worsening obesity, physical inactivity and high perception of stress in first-year medical and dental students in Chile]. / Señales de Alarma: Empeoramiento de la Obesidad, Inactividad Física y Alta Percepción de Estrés en Estudiantes de Primer Año de la Facultad de Medicina y Odontología de la Universidad de Chile.

BACKGROUND: The high prevalence of obesity, smoking, and physical inactivity in Chile despite government-sponsored measures and campaigns, along with others in the last 30 years, suggests additional reinforcement of these efforts at the primary care level. OBJECTIVES: To determine if lifestyles and modifiable health risk factors in first-year students from the University of Chile Faculties of Medicine and Dentistry, potential future promoters of healthy lifestyles, show changes throughout their first academic year. METHODS: In a randomized stratified sample of 388 students according to sex and chosen career weight, height, waist circumference, waist circumference-weight ratio, food consumption, smoking prevalence and dependence, alcohol use, perceived stress level, and physical activity were measured at the first week, 3 and 6 months after their admission. The Cochrane test assessed dichotomic variables, and the Friedman test was used for nonparametric values. RESULTS: 253 students (186 women) completed the follow-up. A significant worsening of obesity (general and abdominal) and physical inactivity, persistent moderate and high-stress perception, and smoking prevalence were documented throughout the study period. CONCLUSIONS: The progressive obesity and physical inactivity, high-stress perception, and persistent smoking prevalence in the first year of academic life suggest considering measures in the curricular academic structure that facilitate adjustments in the student's lifestyles. Future follow-up of this cohort, increasing participants, and assessing students' mental health are planned.

Association between number of remaining teeth and incident depression in a rural Chilean cohort.

OBJECTIVES: Previous studies have established an association between tooth loss and depression. However, longitudinal evidence is scarce and needs to be verified in other populations. The aim of this study was to examine the longitudinal association between the number of remaining teeth and incident depression at 2- and 4-years follow-up in individuals enrolled in the Maule cohort (MAUCO) in Chile. METHODS: This prospective study used the information of individuals, aged 38 to 74 years, excluding those with depression at baseline. The number of remaining teeth at baseline was determined in four groups: "20 or more teeth", "10 to 19 teeth", "1 to 9 teeth" and "no natural teeth". Depression was measured through the PHQ-9. Logistic regression was performed to calculate the odds ratios (OR) for incidence depression at both periods of follow-ups, adjusting for age, sex, educational attainment, diabetes mellitus II, and stressful events at follow-up. Also, we performed adjusted multinomial logistic models to analysis the association between the number of remaining teeth and depression severity. RESULTS: In total individuals (n = 3335 at follow 1, n = 2461 at follow 2), all groups have ORs for incident depression above 1 considering 20 or more teeth as reference. In men, those with 10-19 teeth have 2.44 times higher odds of incident depression than those with 20 or more teeth (OR 2.44, CI 95% 1.33-4.50). Edentulous subjects at 4 years follow-up had 2.24 times higher odds of depression than those with more than 20 teeth (OR 2.24 CI 95%1.35-3.72). In women, the ORs (CI 95%) of incident depression were 2.56 (1.50-4.39), 1.56 (1.02-2.40) and 1.27 (0.90-1.81) for "none", "1-9", "10-19" respectively in comparison to the reference group. In edentulous individuals at baseline, the odds for each of the comparisons "mild vs no", "moderate vs no", "moderately severe vs no" and "severe vs no" were above 1, at both follow-ups. CONCLUSION: Individuals with less than 20 teeth in the mouth could had higher odds of incident depression at 2- and 4-years follow-up, with differences between men and women. Also, in our study, edentulism was associated with increased odds of incident depression at 4-years follow-up in women, and with higher levels of severity of depressive symptoms.

Structural determinants explain caries differences among preschool children in Chile's Metropolitan Region.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the association between Social Determinants of Health (structural and intermediate) and caries indicators in Chile's Metropolitan Region preschool children. METHODS: A multilevel cross-sectional study of Social Determinants of Health (SDH) and caries in children aged 1 to 6 years in Chile's Metropolitan Region was conducted in 2014-2015, with three levels: district, school and child. Caries were assessed by the dmft-index and the prevalence of untreated caries. The structural determinants analyzed were Community Human Development Index (CHDI), urban/rural location, school type, caregiver's education and family income. Poisson multilevel regression models were fit. RESULTS: The sample size was 2,275 children from 40 schools in 13 districts. While the highest CHDI district had an untreated caries prevalence of 17.1% (12.3-22.7%), in the most disadvantaged district it was 53.9% (95% CI 46.0-61.6%). As family income increased, the probability of untreated caries prevalence decreased (PR = 0.9 95% CI 0.8-1.0). Rural districts had an average dmft-index of 7.3 (95% CI 7.2-7.4), while in urban districts, it was 4.4 (95% CI 4.3-4.5). Higher probabilities of untreated caries prevalence (PR = 3.0 95% CI 2.3-3.9) were observed in rural children. Greater probabilities of untreated caries prevalence (PR = 1.3 95% CI 1.1-1.6) and prevalence of caries experience (PR = 1.3 95% CI 1.1-1.5) were observed in children whose caregivers had a secondary educational level. CONCLUSIONS: A strong association was observed between the social determinants of health, specifically the structural ones, and the caries indicators studied in children of the Metropolitan Region of Chile. There were notable differences in caries between districts according to social advantage. Rurality and caregiver's education were the most consistent predictors.

Odontogenic tumours in a Chilean population: a retrospective study of 544 cases based on 2022 WHO classification.

BACKGROUND: Odontogenic tumours are infrequent lesions. Studies on the frequency of odontogenic tumours from Latin America are scarce. This work aimed to determine the relative frequency of odontogenic tumours in a Chilean population using the 2022 World Health Organization classification. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a case series retrospective study. We reviewed 35,530 samples from 1975 to 2022 from the Oral Pathology Referral Institute and the Pathological Anatomy Service, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Chile. We utilized the 2022 World Health Organization classification for histological typification. RESULTS: According to 2022 World Health Organization classification, 544 odontogenic tumours were confirmed. The most frequent odontogenic tumours were: odontoma (n=241; 44.3%), ameloblastoma (n=109; 20.0%) and cemento-ossifying fibroma (n=71; 13.1%). Benign odontogenic tumours corresponded to 538 cases (98.9%) and malignant tumours were only six cases (1.1%). CONCLUSIONS: In our population, odontoma was the most frequent odontogenic tumour followed by ameloblastoma and cemento-ossifying fibroma. Malignant odontogenic tumours were very rare. The results of this study are similar to reports from America, but there are some differences concerning the data from Africa and Asia.

Determinants of anterior tooth loss in Chilean adults: data from the Chilean National Health Survey 2016-2017.

OBJECTIVE: To describe prevalence of anterior tooth loss and its determinants among Chilean people aged over 15 years. METHODS: Cross-sectional study, using the sampling frame of the Chilean National Health Survey 2016-2017 (n=5473 participants). Multivariate logistic regressions were performed to obtain the prevalence and odds ratio (OR) for anterior tooth loss using a complex sampling method. We described anterior tooth loss affecting each jaw according to sex, age, educational level, urban/rural residence and having health insurance. RESULTS: The odds of anterior tooth loss were 7.11 (95%CI: 4.57 - 10.78) and 4.84 (95%CI: 3.02 - 7.72) times higher for low-educated subjects compared to those with more educational, for the upper and lower jaw respectively. Also, the odds of anterior tooth loss for the upper jaw was 1.34 (CI 95%: 1.07 - 1.66) times higher in women, whereas for the lower jaw, no significant differences by sex were found (p-value 0.14). Adults having only the National Health Fund B insurance (FONASA B) had odds of losing one or more anterior teeth 2.43 (CI 95%: 1.34 - 4.39) times higher in the upper jaw and 2.08 (CI 95%: 1.03 - 4.20) in the lower jaw compared with those having Health Insurance Institutions (ISAPREs). CONCLUSION: Our study showed for the first time that anterior tooth loss is a widespread condition in Chile, with marked inequities by sex, age, educational level, and geographical area. People in the public health insurance system have a higher odds of anterior tooth loss.

New salmonid hosts for Tenacibaculum species: Expansion of tenacibaculosis in Chilean aquaculture.

The success and sustainability of Chilean aquaculture largely depends on the control of endemic and emerging pathogens, including several species of the genus Tenacibaculum. Tenacibaculum dicentrarchi and "Tenacibaculum finnmarkense" have been detected and confirmed in Chilean Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). However, no outbreaks of tenacibaculosis in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) or coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) have been reported, either in Chile or globally. The aims of this study were to determine whether the mortalities recorded for rainbow trout and coho salmon from five marine fish farms located in the Los Lagos, Aysén, and Magallanes Regions could be caused by Tenacibaculum spp. The diseased fish exhibited cutaneous haemorrhages, tail and peduncle rots, and damage on the mouth and tongue. Microbiological analysis of infected external tissues yielded 13 bacterial isolates. The isolates were identified as members of the genus Tenacibaculum through biochemical analysis (e.g. Gram-stain negative, straight rods, filamentous cells and motile by gliding), but differences existed in biochemical results, making species-level identification through biomolecular tools essential. The 16S rRNA analysis found that the majority of isolates were more closely related to "T. finnmarkense" than T. dicentrarchi, while the phylogenetic trees resulting from multilocus sequence data recovered the four main clades (clades I to IV) identified by Olsen et al. (2017, Veterinary Microbiology, 205, 39). This is the first documented occurrence of clinical tenacibaculosis in farmed rainbow trout and coho salmon globally, and it extends the known host distribution of this pathogen in Chile. Moreover, we confirm the presence of Tenacibaculum species in the Chilean Patagonia. These findings highlight the importance of establishing preventative measures to minimize the spread of this disease within the Chilean marine aquaculture industry, as well as the need for monitoring initiatives worldwide in these farmed fish species.

Dental caries is associated with severe periodontitis in Chilean adults: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The co-occurrence of caries and periodontitis and a possible association is still a matter of debate. Thus, the aim of the study was to determine the co-occurrence of caries and periodontitis in Chilean adults. METHODS: Evaluation of periodontal and dental status in 994 adults (35-44 years old) based on the First Chilean National Examination Survey 2007-2008. The prevalence of caries was defined as the percentage of participants with one or more teeth with untreated caries by using the D component of the DMFT index (DT ≠ 0). The prevalence of periodontitis was determined using standard case definitions for population-based surveillance of periodontitis described by the CDC-AAP. RESULTS: Individuals with caries had an approximately 40% higher prevalence of severe (29.3% vs 20.8%, p < 0.05) and a 13% higher prevalence of total periodontitis (89.3% vs 78.4%, p < 0.05) than those without caries. Ordinal logistic regression revealed a positive association between periodontitis and the number of teeth with caries (DT ≠ 0; 3 or 4 teeth with caries: OR 1.74; CI = 1.12-2.29 p < 0.05; 5 or more teeth with caries: OR 2.47; CI = 1.66-3.67 p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Dental caries is associated with the severity and prevalence of periodontitis in Chilean adults. Individuals with 3 or more teeth with untreated caries are more likely to suffer from periodontal disease.

Observational cross-sectional study of Trichomonas tenax in patients with periodontal disease attending a Chilean university dental clinic.

BACKGROUND: The oral flagellated protozoan Trichomonas tenax has been associated with patients with periodontal disease. However, no recent studies have been conducted on the prevalence of T. tenax in Chile. The aim of this study was to determine the presence of T. tenax in patients with periodontal disease, admitted to the Dental Clinic of the University of Antofagasta, Chile, through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) amplification of the beta-tubulin gene. METHODS: An observational, cross-sectional study was conducted on 50 patients diagnosed with periodontal disease, 20 of them with gingivitis and 30 with periodontitis. T. tenax was identified by PCR amplification of the beta-tubulin gene. Associations between the protozoan and periodontal disease or the presence of risk factors to establish T. tenax infection were determined using the chi-square test and binary logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: T. tenax was present in 28 out of 50 (56%) of patients with periodontal disease, and was more prevalent when associated with periodontitis (21 out of 30; 70%) than dental plaque-induced gingivitis (7 out of 20; 35%). Non-statistically-significant associations were observed between the presence of T. tenax and age, gender, smoking habit or diabetes. Statistically significant associations were observed between the presence of T. tenax and periodontal disease, and between T. tenax and the Periodontal Screening and Recording (PSR) index. CONCLUSION: T. tenax showed a high presence in patients with progressive states of periodontal diseases. Consequently, T. tenax detection is strongly recommended in patients with periodontal disease diagnosis and with a PSR index greater than 3.

Distribution of biopsied non plaque-induced gingival lesions in a Chilean population according to the classification of periodontal diseases.

BACKGROUND: Many gingival lesions are not induced by plaque. The aim of this study was to analyze the frequency of biopsied non-plaque-induced gingival lesions (NPIGL) in a Chilean population. METHODS: One thousand twelve cases of biopsied gingival lesions with confirmed anatomopathologic diagnosis were included, from the records of the Oral Pathology Referral Institute (OPRI), Faculty of Dentistry, University of Chile, between years 1990 and 2009. RESULTS: The most frequent non plaque-induced gingival lesions categories from biopsied cases included hyperplastic lesions, malignancies and benign neoplasms. The most frequent diagnoses in each category were fibrous hyperplasia (35.47%), squamous cell carcinoma (3.85%) and giant cell fibroma (2.08%), respectively. From all lesions, only 8.3% fitted in the specified categories of the current classification of periodontal diseases. CONCLUSIONS: The most frequent biopsied NPIGL were hyperplastic lesions and neoplasms. These categories represent relevant lesions to be included in a future periodontal classification system to improve the care needs of the patients, as well as early diagnosis and treatment.

Oral health disparities among adolescents from urban and rural communities of central Chile.

PURPOSE: Rural populations may be at increased risk for prevalent oral diseases. The aim of this study was to compare oral health status of adolescents of rural and urban areas from central Chile. METHODS: A representative sample of 552 and 486 adolescents aged 12 and 15 years, respectively, was examined using WHO methods. Adolescents were chosen from schools belonging to urban and rural districts of the region. Caries status was obtained by decayed, missing, filled teeth (DMFT) and significant caries (SiC) indexes. The gingival exam included the oral hygiene index (OHI) of Silness and Löe and the gingival index (GI) of Löe and Silness. Clinical attachment loss and community periodontal index (CPI) were restricted to 15-year-old adolescents. Statistical comparisons of medians and means were performed with the Mann-Whitney U-test. To determine the association between caries experience and oral hygiene and gingival indexes, Spearman's correlation was used at p<0.05. RESULTS: Twelve-year-old children from rural areas had caries prevalence of 67.50%, which was significantly higher (p<0.05) than children from urban areas, who had 54.04%. Caries experience of 12-year-old rural children was significantly higher (DMFT 3.36; standard deviation (SD) 2.71) than that of urban children (DMFT 2.29; SD 2.17) (p=0.0001). Rural adolescents also showed increased caries severity (SiC 6.21; SD 2.44), whereas urban children showed had a SiC of 4.71 (SD 1.74) (p=0.0001). For periodontal indexes, the average GI for 12-year-olds was 1.51 (SD 0.33), which corresponds to moderate inflammation, but rural subjects (GI 1.55; SD 0.34) had higher values (p=0.002) than their urban counterparts (GI 1.45; SD 0.29). In 15-year-old adolescents, caries prevalence was significantly higher in rural (73.58%) than in urban (64.59%) individuals (p<0.05). Although not significant, caries experience for 15-year-olds in rural areas, like in the other age group, was slightly higher than for urban 15-year-olds (DMFT 5.03; SD 3.61 and DMFT 4.65; SD 3.58, respectively) (p=0.238). The SiC in the rural subjects (9.16; SD 2.26) of this age group was significantly higher than for urban adolescents (8.51; SD 3.00). No significant differences either in the OHI (p=0.418) or in the GI (p=0.624) were observed between rural and urban participants. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents of central Chile show clear disparities in oral health, with rural communities more affected. Gingival health seems to be less impacted by rurality than caries experience. Other social determinants of oral health may also explain these results, and further research appears necessary.

Oral diseases: a 14-year experience of a Chilean institution with a systematic review from eight countries.

BACKGROUND: Retrospective studies to assess the distribution of oral diseases (ODs) are helpful in estimating the prevalence of oral diagnoses in the population, and thus help in preventive and curative services. Prevalence and frequency data for ODs are available from many countries, but information from Chile is scarce. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study investigated the frequency of OD in a Chilean population. For this, we included all patients treated at the University of Talca (UTALCA, Chile) between 2001 and 2014. Patient characteristics were retrieved from medical files. To contextualize our results, we conducted a systematic review (SystRev) using Publish or Perish software (PoP), Google Scholar and MEDLINE/PubMed. RESULTS: One hundred sixty-six ODs were diagnosed, and the most prevalent groups were soft tissue tumours, epithelial pathology and salivary gland pathology. Individually, irritation fibroma, oral lichen planus (OLP) and mucocele were the most common diagnoses. ODs frequently affected unspecified parts of the mouth (including cheek, vestibule and retromolar area), gum, lips, tongue and palate. In the SystRev, the more studied diagnoses were leukoplakia, OLP and recurrent aphthous stomatitis; prevalent lesions included Fordyce's spots, recurrent aphthous stomatitis and fissured tongue. Chilean patients and SistRev shared almost all ODs. CONCLUSIONS: The results reflect ODs diagnosed in a specialized service of oral pathology and medicine in Chile and will allow the establishment of preventive/curative policies, adequate health services and dentistry curriculum.

[Frequency of oral squamous cell carcinoma and oral epithelial dysplasia in oral and oropharyngeal mucosa in Chile]. / Frecuencia de displasia epitelial y carcinoma escamoso en mucosa oral y orofaríngea en Chile, entre los años 1990 y 2009.

BACKGROUND: Oral cancer in Chile corresponds approximately to 1.6% of all cancer cases. There are few studies about oral epithelial dysplasia and oral squamous cell carcinoma in the Chilean population. AIM: To determine the frequency of hyperkeratosis, mild, moderate and severe oral epithelial dysplasia, in situ carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the oral and oropharyngeal mucosa in a registry of the Oral Pathology Reference Institute of the Faculty of Dentistry, Universidad de Chile, in a ten years period. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Review of clinical records and pathological plates of 389 patients, obtained between 1990 and 2009. Cases were selected according to their pathological diagnosis, including hyperkeratosis, oral epithelial dysplasia, in situ carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and verrucous carcinoma. RESULTS: Forty four percent of cases were squamous cell carcinoma, followed by hyperkeratosis in 37% and mild epithelial dysplasia in 11%. Squamous cell carcinoma was more common in men aged over 50 years. Most of the potentially malignant disorders presented clinically as leukoplakia and squamous cell carcinoma were clinically recognized as cancer. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, men aged over 50 years are the highest risk group for oral cancer. Early diagnosis is deficient since most of these lesions were diagnosed when squamous cell carcinoma became invasive. Leukoplakia diagnosis is mostly associated with hyperkeratosis and epithelial dysplasia, therefore biopsy of these lesions is mandatory to improve early diagnosis.

Bone grafts utilized in dentistry: an analysis of patients' preferences.

BACKGROUND: Many procedures currently require the use of bone grafts to replace or recover bone volume that has been resorbed. However, the patient's opinion and preferences must be taken into account before implementing any treatment. Researchers have focused primarily on assessing the effectiveness of bone grafts rather than on patients' perceptions. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore patients' opinions regarding the different types of bone grafts used in dental treatments. METHODS: One hundred patients were randomly chosen participated in the study. A standardized survey of 10 questions was used to investigate their opinions regarding the different types of bone grafts used in dental treatments. Descriptive statistics were calculated for the different variables, and absolute frequencies and percentages were used as summary measures. A value of p <0.05 was selected as the threshold for statistical significance. RESULTS: The highest rate of refusal was observed for allografts and xenografts. The grafts with the lowest rates of refusal were autologous grafts (3 %) and alloplastics (2 %). No significant differences were found between the various types of bone grafts in the sociodemographic variables or the refusal/acceptance variable. Similarly, no significant relations were observed between a specific religious affiliation and the acceptance/refusal rates of the various types of graft. CONCLUSIONS: Allografts and xenografts elicited the highest refusal rates among the surveyed patients, and autologous bone and alloplastics were the most accepted bone grafts. Moreover, no differences were found in the sociodemographic variables or religious affiliations in terms of the acceptance/refusal rates of the different bone grafts.

Two new species of Ornithodoros (Ixodida; Argasidae) from the Southern Cone of South America.

Two new species of the genus Ornithodoros were described from larvae collected in Argentina and Chile. Ornithodoros xerophylus n. sp. was described from specimens collected on the small rodent Graomys centralis in Argentina. The diagnostic characters for this species are a combination of dorsal plate slightly oval with a length of approximately 250 µm, 16 pairs of dorsal setae, hypostome with apex rounded and dental formula 2/2 in most rows, 3/3 apically, and capsule of the Haller's organ oval in shape without reticulations. Larvae of Ornithodoros lahillei n. sp. were collected on the reptiles Philodryas chamissonis and Callopistes maculatus in Chile. The diagnostic characters for O. lahillei are a combination of dorsal plate subtriangular with margins corrugated and posterior margin convex, dorsal surface with 14 pairs of setae, absence of postcoxal setae, and hypostome with apex pointed and dental formula 3/3 in anterior third and 2/2 in the middle and basal portion. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rDNA sequences and a Principal Component Analysis based on morphometric characters provided additional support to the description of O. lahillei and O. xerophylus as two independent lineages within the genus Ornithodoros.

Prevalence of root caries among ambulant older adults living in central Chile.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of root caries and the treatment needs in an ambulant population of older adults, living in the Maule Region, Chile. BASIC RESEARCH DESIGN: The source of primary data was the Regional Oral Health Survey. A random sample of 438 older adults, aged 65-74 years, living independently in the community was orally examined, and underwent an oral health interview. RESULTS: This was a largely dentate population (74.9%). Dentate participants had 70.4% of their root surfaces with recession. Those with exposed root surfaces had an average of 29.8 root surfaces exposed. The root caries index (RCI) was 8.23%, and a mean of 0.21 and 0.55 root surfaces filled and decayed, respectively. CONCLUSION: Participants had better oral health status than previously reported. Consistent with studies conducted in independent-living older adults, root caries occurred in a lower frequency among Chilean ambulant older adults. The proportion of unmet restorative needs could be reduced. Community-based preventive care programmes specifically tailored to older adults are needed to address this challenge.

Impact of rurality on the oral health status of 6-year-old children from central Chile: the EpiMaule study.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was the assessment of dental caries and the gingival status of 6-year-old children living in the Maule region, Chile's most rural region, and to determine if rurality was related to a higher prevalence of oral conditions. METHODS: A representative sample of 485 children aged 6 years was examined using WHO methods. Children were chosen from schools belonging to urban and rural districts of the region. Caries status was obtained by deft (decayed, extracted, filled teeth), DMFT (decayed, missing, filled teeth) and SiC (Significant Caries) indexes. To assess gingival health status, the oral hygiene (OHI) and the gingival index (GI) were used. Urban and rural children data were compared using student's t-test at p < 0.05. RESULTS: Overall caries prevalence was 80.62%. Rural children showed higher prevalence (p < 0.0001) than urban 6-year-olds, with 88.3% and 69.9%, respectively. The deft (decayed, extracted, filled teeth) index was 4.63 for the region, with 5.74 for rural and 3.09 for urban districts (p < 0.05). The SiC index was 10.23 for rural and 7.13 for urban children (p < 0.05). Mean OHI score was 1.44, but rural children had higher OHI: 1.49 compared with 1.37 for urban 6-year-olds (p < 0.0001). The GI of the region was 1.37, but no differences were detected between rural and urban children (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Children from the Maule region in Chile have a severely deteriorated oral health, higher than Chile's mean. Rural are significantly more affected than urban children. A special focus on rural communities when designing oral health policies is strongly suggested.

[Dental caries and early childhood development: a pilot study]. / Caries dental y desarrollo infantil temprano. Estudio piloto.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between dental caries and early childhood development in 3-year-olds from Talca, Chile. METHOD: A pilot study with a convenience sample of 3-year-olds from Talca (n = 39) who attend public healthcare centers. Child development was measured by the Psychomotor Development Index (PDI), a screening tool used nationally among pre-school children to assess language development, fine motor skills and coordination areas. Dental caries prevalence was evaluated by decayed, missing, filled teeth (DFMT) and decayed, missing, filled tooth surfaces (DFMS) ceo-d and ceo-s indexes. The children were divided into two groups according to the PDIscore: those with a score of 40 or more were considered developmentally normal (n = 32), and those with a score below 40 were considered as having impaired development (n = 7). RESULTS: The severity of caries (DMFT) was negatively correlated with PDI (r = -0.82), and children with the lowest TEPSI score had the highest DFMT values. The average DMFT in children with normal development was 1.31, and 3.57 for those with impaired development. CONCLUSION: This pilot study indicates that the severity of dental caries is correlated with early childhood development.

[Association between overweight and early childhood caries]. / Asociación entre malnutrición por exceso con caries temprana de la infancia.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether overweight is a risk factor for the development of early childhood caries (ECC) in preschoolers. PATIENTS AND METHOD: An observational retrospective cohort study was performed in 196 children under 2 years of age at Calbuco Hospital, Los Lagos Region, Chile, who were admitted between 2007 and 2009. Patients were grouped based on their nutritional status at admission in the two following categories: eutrophic and overweighed children as a result of excessive intake. Information regarding caries incidence and nutritional status were annually retrieved from records until the age of 5 years, according to medical and dental records. RESULTS: At the beginning of the study, 33.67% were overweight and 16.33% were obese, reaching 40% overweight and 20.56% obese at four years of age. The incidence of early childhood caries in overweighed children was 57.14% compared to 40.82% in normal weight children (p = 0.022), with 1.4 RR (95% CI, 1044-1.88). CONCLUSIONS: The increased risk of early childhood decay in overweighed patients makes necessary to create instances of timely mutual referral between the professional that diagnoses overweighed children and the pediatric dentist in order to develop preventive treatments for both diseases.

Inequalities in dental services use by older adults in Chile according to eligibility for a national dental programme.

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence and trends in dental service use among Chilean older adults (60+ years) between 2006 and 2017; to assess the association between socioeconomic factors and dental service use and type (public/private) in 2017 and whether these differ by eligibility to a national dental programme (GES-60). METHODS: This study involved secondary data analysis of five nationally representative cross-sectional surveys between 2006 and 2017. Trends were assessed for use of dental services and types of services used among 60-79-year-olds. Logistic regression models examined the association between use of dental services in 2017 and socioeconomic variables (income and education), accounting for covariates (age, gender, residence, ethnicity, cohabiting status, employment and disability). Estimated marginal means and odds ratios (ORs) were calculated to assess the association between socioeconomic variables and the outcomes by GES-60 eligibility. RESULTS: Across surveys, the average prevalence of use of dental services in the last 3 months was 5.0%. There was a slight increase in dental visits between 2006 and 2017. This trend was higher among GES-60 eligible individuals using public dental services. Inequalities were observed in regression analyses. Compared to the poorest quintile and those with no formal education respectively, the ORs were 2.36 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.79-5.68) for the richest quintile and ranged from 2.91 (95% CI 1.49-5.68) to 6.43 (3.26-12.68) for each higher level of educational attainment. Inequalities were wider among GES-60 non-eligible than GES-60 eligible older adults for both outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Socioeconomic inequalities were present among older adults regardless of GES-60 eligibility. However, these inequalities were more pronounced among non-eligible individuals. Our findings suggest a limited impact of GES-60 only among eligible older adults. Policies considering the needs of the whole older adult population are likely to have a stronger impact.