Ecological study on needs and cost of treatment for dental caries in schoolchildren aged 6, 12, and 15 years: Data from a national survey in Mexico.

To determine the treatment needs and the care index for dental caries in the primary dentition and permanent dentition of schoolchildren and to quantify the cost of care that would represent the treatment of dental caries in Mexico.A secondary analysis of data from the First National Caries Survey was conducted, which was a cross-sectional study conducted in the 32 states of Mexico. Based on dmft (average number of decayed, extracted, and filled teeth in the primary dentition) and DMFT (average number of decayed, extracted, and filled teeth in permanent dentition) information, a treatment needs index (TNI) and a caries care index (CI) were calculated.At age 6, the TNI for the primary dentition ranged from 81.7% to 99.5% and the CI ranged from 0.5% to 17.6%. In the permanent dentition, the TNI ranged from 58.8% to 100%, and the CI ranged from 0.0% to 41.2%. At age 12, the TNI ranged from 55.4% to 93.4%, and the CI ranged from 6.5% to 43.4%. At age 15, the TNI ranged from 50.4% to 98.4%, and the CI ranged from 1.4% to 48.3%. The total cost of treatment at 6 years of age was estimated to range from a purchasing power parity (PPP) of USD $49.1 to 287.7 million in the primary dentition, and from a PPP of USD $3.7 to 24 million in the permanent dentition. For the treatment of the permanent dentition of 12-year-olds, the PPP ranged from USD $13.3 to 85.4 million. The estimated cost of treatment of the permanent dentition of the 15-year-olds ranged from a PPP of USD $10.9 to 70.3 million. The total estimated cost of caries treatment ranged from a PPP of USD $77.1 to 499.6 million, depending on the type of treatment and provider (public or private).High percentages of TNI for dental caries and low CI values were observed. The estimated costs associated with the treatment for caries have an impact because they represent a considerable percentage of the total health expenditure in Mexico.

Impact of socio-demographic, socioeconomic, and water variables on dental fluorosis in adolescents growing up during the implementation of a fluoridated domestic salt program.

The objective of this study is to determine the impact of socio-demographic, socioeconomic, and other risk indicators on dental fluorosis (DF) among Mexican adolescents. A cross-sectional study was carried out in 1,538 adolescents 12 and 15 years of age in semi-rural communities located at high altitude (>2,000 m) and with high concentration of fluoride in water (1.38-3.07 ppm) in Hidalgo, Mexico. DF was determined by means of Dean's Index and all teeth were examined. Remaining variables were collected using a questionnaire. The adjusted final model was performed using ordered logistic regression. After adjusting for sex, the variables associated with DF were (p < 0.05): being 12 years old (OR = 1.10) versus 15 years old; having lived the first 6 years of life in El Llano (3.07 F ppm) (OR = 3.19) or San Marcos (1.38 F ppm) (OR = 1.63) versus Tula (1.42 F ppm); having public (OR = 1.35) or private health insurance (OR = 1.36) versus those without insurance; belonging to the lower quartiles of socioeconomic position (SEP) [1st quartile (OR = 2.48), 2nd quartile (OR = 1.81), 3rd quartile (OR = 1.49)] versus the highest quartile; having drunk tap water (OR = 1.83) or from a well or spring (OR = 2.30) versus those who drank water purchased in large containers or bottles. Demographic and socioeconomic variables were associated with DF. While better SEP appeared to play an important role in DF, a pattern of water intake associated with water purchased in large containers or bottles (which have different connotations to the use of bottled water in industrialized Western countries) did reduce DF risk in these high fluoride content, high altitude communities.

Dental caries' experience, prevalence and severity in Mexican adolescents and young adults.

OBJECTIVE: Determining dental caries' experience, prevalence and severity in students applying for degree courses at San Luis Potosi University (UASLP). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out involving adolescents and young adults (16 to 25 years old) applying for undergraduate courses at UASLP (approximately 10 %, n=1 027). Two standardized examiners undertook dental examinations; DMFT index, prevalence (DMFT>0), severity (DMFT>3 and DMFT>6) and significant caries index (SiC) were calculated. STATA 9.0 non-parametric tests were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Mean age was 18.20+/-1.65; 48.0% were female. The DMFT index was 4.04+/-3.90 and caries prevalence was 74.4%. Regarding caries' severity, 48.8% had MDFT>3 and 24% DMFT>6. The SiC index was 8.64. Females had higher caries experience than males (4.32+/-4.01 cf 3.78+/-3.78; p<0.05), but similar prevalence and severity (p>0.05). Age was associated with both experience (p<0.001) and prevalence (p<0.01) and to differing degrees of caries' severity (p<0,001). The "filled teeth" component had the highest DMFT index percentage (63.6%) and "missing teeth" the lowest (11.4%). CONCLUSIONS: High dental caries' experience, prevalence and severity were observed in this sample of adolescents and young adults. Restorative experience was high (59.5%) compared to studies carried out in other parts of Mexico and Latin-America.

Dental caries' experience, prevalence and severity in Mexican adolescents and young adults / Experiencia, prevalencia y severidad de caries dental en adolescentes y adultos jóvenes mexicanos

Objective Determining dental caries' experience, prevalence and severity in students applying for degree courses at San Luis Potosi University (UASLP). Material and Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out involving adolescents and young adults (16 to 25 years old) applying for undergraduate courses at UASLP (~10 percent, n=1 027). Two standardized examiners undertook dental examinations; DMFT index, prevalence (DMFT>0), severity (DMFT>3 and DMFT>6) and significant caries index (SiC) were calculated. STATA 9.0 non-parametric tests were used for statistical analysis. Results Mean age was 18.20±1.65; 48.0 percent were female. The DMFT index was 4.04±3.90 and caries prevalence was 74.4 percent. Regarding caries' severity, 48.8 percent had MDFT>3 and 24 percent DMFT>6. The SiC index was 8.64. Females had higher caries experience than males (4.32±4.01 cf 3.78±3.78; p<0.05), but similar prevalence and severity (p>0.05). Age was associated with both experience (p<0.001) and prevalence (p<0.01) and to differing degrees of caries' severity (p<0,001). The ®filled teeth¼ component had the highest DMFT index percentage (63.6 percent) and ®missing teeth¼ the lowest (11.4 percent). Conclusions High dental caries' experience, prevalence and severity were observed in this sample of adolescents and young adults. Restorative experience was high (59.5 percent) compared to studies carried out in other parts of Mexico and Latin-America.

Objetivo Determinar la experiencia, prevalencia y severidad de caries en aspirantes a las licenciaturas de la Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí (UASLP). Material y Métodos Se realizó un estudio transversal descriptivo en el 2007 en una muestra de adolescentes y adultos jóvenes de 16 a 25 años de edad aspirantes a las licenciaturas de la UASLP (~10 por ciento, n=1 027). El examen clínico lo realizaron dentistas. Se calcularon los índices de caries para dentición permanente y se determinó la experiencia (índice global CPOD), la prevalencia (CPOD>0) y la severidad (CPOD>3 y CPOD>6) de caries dental, además, del índice de caries significativa (SiC). Los análisis estadísticos se realizaron con X2, Mann-Whitney, y pruebas de tendencia no paramétrica en STATA 9.0. Resultados La edad promedio fue 18,20±1,65 años. El 48,0 por ciento fueron mujeres. El índice CPOD fue 4,04±3,90 y la prevalencia de caries de 74,4 por ciento. En cuanto a la severidad, 48,8 por ciento tuvieron CPOD >3 y 24,0 por ciento CPOD >6. El índice SiC fue de 8,64. Las mujeres tuvieron mayor experiencia de caries que los hombres (4,32±4,01 vs 3,78±3,78; p<0,05); pero similar prevalencia y severidad (p>0,05). La edad se asoció tanto a la experiencia (p<0,001), como a la prevalencia (p<0,01) y a los diferentes grados de severidad de caries (p<0,001). El mayor porcentaje (63,6 por ciento) del índice CPOD fue del componente ®dientes obturados¼ y el menor (11,4 por ciento) del componente "dientes perdidos". Conclusiones Se observó una alta experiencia, prevalencia y severidad de caries en esta muestra de adolescentes y adultos jóvenes. Por otro lado, la experiencia restauradora fue alta (59,5 por ciento) en comparación con estudios realizados en otros lugares de México y Latinoamérica.

Dental fluorosis in 12- and 15-year-olds at high altitudes in above-optimal fluoridated communities in Mexico.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and severity of dental fluorosis in Mexican adolescents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional epidemiological study was carried out in 1,024 adolescents 12 and 15-years-old residing in three naturally fluoridated locales at high altitudes above sea level (> 2,000 m or > 6,560 ft) in Tula de Allende, Hidalgo, Mexico. Participants had lived in those communities from birth to their sixth birthday. Both the Modified Dean Index and the Community Fluorosis Index were calculated. RESULTS: The overall fluorosis prevalence was 83.8 percent. Fluorosis prevalence in El Llano (3.07 ppmF), San Marcos (1.38 ppmF), and Tula Centro (1.42 ppmF) was 94.7, 89.8, and 81.9 percent, respectively. Overall, the Community Fluorosis Index was 1.85. We observed a high prevalence of dental fluorosis--mostly very mild (35.9 percent), but also uncommonly severe (20.6 percent). CONCLUSIONS: At least 8 out of 10 adolescents had some level of fluorosis, and such prevalence is considered to be a dental public health problem. A relationship between fluoride concentration in water in each community and fluorosis was observed. The high fluorosis prevalence and severity might possibly be associated with the high altitude of the communities.

Caries, periodontal disease and tooth loss in patients with diabetes mellitus types 1 and 2.

The aim of this work was to determine the frequency of caries, periodontal disease and tooth loss in patients affected by diabetes mellitus types 1 and 2. It was a cross-sectional study involving 175 subjects distributed in the following groups: (1) 35 patients with diabetes type 1 (glycosylated hemoglobin values from 6.5%-7%), (2) 35 patients with diabetes type 1 (values of glycosylated hemoglobin higher than 7%), (3) 35 subjects without diabetes mellitus type 1, (4) 35 patients with diabetes type 2 and (5) 35 subjects without diabetes mellitus type 2. The following clinical parameters were evaluated for all the subjects who participated in the study: frequency of caries, filled teeth, missing teeth, prosthetic restoration, bacterial dental plaque, calculus index, probing depth and attachment level. On comparing the groups of patients with diabetes type 1 to the control group, there were no statistically significant differences among any of the study variables. On comparing the group of patients with diabetes type 2 to the control group, there were statistically significant differences in the variables missing teeth (p=0.0134), calculus (p=0.0001), probing depth (p=0.0009) and attachment level (p=0.0093). The variable periodontal disease showed statistically significant dIfferences in the group of patients with diabetes type 2. Prevention, supervision and review of the oral health of patients with diabetes (types 1 and 2) are needed in order to prevent oral alterations.