Diabetes or hypertension as risk indicators for missing teeth experience: An exploratory study in a sample of Mexican adults.

BACKGROUND: To determine an exploratory estimation of the strength of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and hypertension diagnoses as risk indicators for missing teeth in a sample of Mexican adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A comparative cross-sectional study of sixty adult patients in a health center in Mexico included as dependent variable, the number of missing teeth (and having a functional dentition) and as independent variables, diagnoses for diabetes or hypertension, age, sex, maximum level of schooling, and tobacco use. Of the 60 participants, 20 were diagnosed with T2DM, 13 with hypertension, and 27 were otherwise diagnosed as healthy in their most recent medical checkup. A negative binomial regression (NBR) model was generated. RESULTS: Mean age was 50.7 ± 16.2 and 50.0% were women. Mean number of missing teeth was 4.98 ± 4.17. In the multivariate NBR model, we observed that individuals with T2DM had higher risk of more missing teeth (incidence rate ratios [IRRs] = 3.13; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.09-4.69), followed by those with hypertension (IRRs = 2.63; 95% CI = 1.77-3.90). In addition, participants with current tobacco use were significantly more likely to have suffered tooth loss (P < 0.05) than those who were never smokers or former smokers, just like older participants (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: T2DM and hypertension are independently associated with higher experience of missing teeth in an open adult population in Mexico. Future studies with a more sophisticated epidemiological design and encompassing a more detailed landscape of chronic diseases, type and length of use of long-term medications, and patterns of dental care use are needed to better delineate these associations.

Sociodemographic, Socio-economic, Clinical and Behavioural Factors Modifying Experience and Prevalence of Dental Caries in the Permanent Dentition.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the sociodemographic, socio-economic, clinical and behavioural factors that modify the experience of decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) and caries prevalence in Nicaraguan children 9-12 years old. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study in 800 school children 9-12 years old in the city of León, Nicaragua. The clinical oral examinations to identify caries experience were undertaken by two trained and certified examiners. Sociodemographic, socio-economic and behavioural data were collected using questionnaires. Negative binomial regression (NBR) and binary logistic regression (BLR) models were used to model caries experience and caries prevalence, respectively. RESULTS: Mean DMFT index was 0.98 ± 1.74 and caries prevalence (DMFT > 0) was 37.9%. In the NBR model, the categories that increase the expected DMFT mean were: older age, female gender, presence of plaque, and if the school children received curative and curative/preventive dental care in the last year. In the BLR model, the odds of presenting with caries in the permanent dentition were increased in older children, those from large families, mothers with a positive dental attitude, and those school children who received curative and curative/preventive dental care in the last year. CONCLUSIONS: Using different models, we identified several sociodemographic, socio-economic, clinical and behavioural factors that modify the experience (NBR) and prevalence (BLR) of dental caries.

Salivary Parameters (Salivary Flow, pH and Buffering Capacity) in Stimulated Saliva of Mexican Elders 60 Years Old and Older.

OBJECTIVE: To compare a limited array of chewing-stimulated saliva features (salivary flow, pH and buffer capacity) in a sample of elderly Mexicans with clinical, sociodemographic and socio-economic variables. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in 139 adults, 60 years old and older, from two retirement homes and a senior day care centre in the city of Pachuca, Mexico. Sociodemographic, socio-economic and behavioural variables were collected through a questionnaire. A trained and standardized examiner obtained the oral clinical variables. Chewing-stimulated saliva (paraffin method) was collected and the salivary flow rate, pH and buffer capacity were measured. The analysis was performed using non-parametric tests in Stata 9.0. RESULTS: Mean age was 79.1 ± 9.8 years. Most of the subjects included were women (69.1%). Mean chewing-stimulated salivary flow was 0.75 ± 0.80 mL/minute, and the pH and buffer capacity were 7.88 ± 0.83 and 4.20 ± 1.24, respectively. Mean chewing-stimulated salivary flow varied (p < 0.05) across type of retirement home, tooth brushing frequency, number of missing teeth and use of dental prostheses. pH varied across the type of retirement home (p < 0.05) and marginally by age (p = 0.087); buffer capacity (p < 0.05) varied across type of retirement home, tobacco consumption and the number of missing teeth. CONCLUSIONS: These exploratory data add to the body of knowledge with regard to chewing-stimulated salivary features (salivary flow rate, pH and buffer capacity) and outline the variability of those features across selected sociodemographic, socio-economic and behavioural variables in a group of Mexican elders.

Maternal characteristics and treatment needs as predictors of dental health services utilisation among Mexican school children.

AIM: To determine whether maternal characteristics and treatment needs are associated with dental health services utilization (DHSU) in school children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study in 1373 school children aged 6- 12 years in elementary schools in Campeche, Mexico collected family and sociodemographic characteristics; an oral examination was conducted. The dependent variable was DHSU in the year preceding the study. RESULTS: DHSU prevalence was 65.5%. The variables associated (p<0.05) with DHSU in the final multivariate model were age (OR=1.27), maternal schooling (OR=1.07), mother's attitude toward oral health (OR=1.39), frequency of tooth brushing (OR=1.83), enamel defects (OR=1.55), and unmet oral health needs (moderate: OR=1.42 and high: OR=2.30). CONCLUSION: Specific sociodemographic and maternal variables were associated with DHSU. Strategies are needed to increase appropriate and timely use of services to improve health status.

Edentulism risk indicators among Mexican elders 60-year-old and older.

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of edentulism in Mexican elders aged 60 years and older, and the associated risk indicators. A cross-sectional study was undertaken in 139 elders living in either of two long-term care (LTC) facilities, or attending an adult day center (ADC) in Pachuca, Mexico. A subject was edentulous when natural teeth were completely absent, determined through a clinical examination. Risk indicators were collected using questionnaires. Analyses were performed using binary logistic regression in STATA 9.0. Mean age was 79.0±9.8 years. Many subjects were women (69.1%). The prevalence of edentulism was 36.7%. In multivariate analysis, after adjusting for age and sex, the variables that were inversely associated (p<0.05) with edentulism were living with a spouse (odds ratio=OR=0.31), and lacking health insurance (OR=0.70). Variables associated with higher risk of being edentate were lower educational attainment (OR=1.61), having received radiation therapy (OR=4.49), being a smoker (OR=4.82), and having diabetes (OR=2.94) or other chronic illnesses (OR=1.82) (with hypertension approaching significance, p=0.067). In this sample of Mexican elders, diverse variables were associated with edentulism, in particular smoking and past radiotherapy. Oral health programs within and outside LTC/ADC should take into account risk factors specific to the older population.