RESUMEN
Objective: Dental caries remains a prevalent disease worldwide. Several epidemiological studies have shown that it affects the oral health of the pediatric population, and the Galapagos population in Ecuador is no exception. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of dental caries and its association, based on baseline information from the Galapagos Oral Health Study (ESSO-Gal), in children of the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 804 children aged 2-11 years. The prevalence of dental caries was assessed using the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS II) criteria, while the presence of dental biofilm was assessed using the Silness-Löe index. Descriptive statistics, including frequency analysis and measures of central tendency and dispersion, were performed. Inferential statistical analyses were conducted to identify associations between variables. Statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS version 25.0 statistical program. Results: The caries prevalence rates based on ICDAS II codes 1-6, 1-2, and 3-6 were 98.01%, 96.9%, and 85%, respectively. A statistically significant difference was observed among the different islands regarding the cutoff point for ICDAS II codes 3-6 (p ≤ 0.001). Participants aged 6-11 years had the highest caries prevalence. Conclusions: The results show a high prevalence of dental caries among children in the Galapagos Islands, which increases with age. Contrary to expectations, the study did not find a significant correlation between the severity of dental caries and the presence of dental biofilm.
RESUMEN
Introduction: Dental caries is the most prevalent oral disease in Ecuador. In our country, there are no studies that have included the population of the Galapagos Islands. Fluoride application to incipient lesions of dental caries has shown to be effective in avoiding the use of invasive restorative procedures. Objectives: The objective of the EESO-Gal study is to determine the prevalence and incidence of dental caries and to evaluate the effect of supervised dental brushing, accompanied by periodic applications of fluoride varnish on incipient precarious lesions of schoolchildren in the Galapagos Islands. This article presents the protocol of the EESO-Gal study. Methods: A cohort is planned with Galapagos Islands schoolchildren to determine the prevalence and incidence of dental caries, with assessments every six months, during twenty-four months. Results: We expect to determine the prevalence and incidence of caries every six months, for twenty-four months, in schoolchildren between three and ten years of age, and obtain data to show the state of the caries conditions in Galapagos schoolchildren, with the inclusion of daily brushing at school, supervised by the teacher, and with the application of fluoride varnish every six months. Conclusions: The prevalence of dental caries and incidence after the program will demonstrate the importance of implementing oral health prevention and promotion actions to create hygiene and health habits from an early age.
Introducción: La caries dental es la enfermedad bucal más prevalente en Ecuador. En nuestro país no existen estudios que hayan considerado a la población de las Islas Galápagos. La aplicación de flúor sobre lesiones incipientes de caries dental ha demostrado efectividad para evitar ejecutar procedimientos invasivos restauradores. Objetivos: El objetivo del Estudio de Salud Oral Galápagos, EESO-Gal, es determinar la prevalencia e incidencia de caries dental y evaluar el efecto de la acción del cepillado dental supervisado, acompañado de aplicaciones periódicas de flúor en barniz sobre lesiones cariosas incipientes en escolares de las Islas Galápagos. Con este informe se busca reportar el protocolo del Estudio de Salud Oral Galápagos. Métodos: Se plantea realizar una cohorte con los escolares de las Islas Galápagos para determinar la prevalencia e incidencia de caries con evaluaciones cada seis meses durante veinticuatro meses. Resultados: Se espera determinar la prevalencia e incidencia de caries cada seis meses durante veinticuatro meses en escolares de tres a diez años y obtener datos que permitan evidenciar el estado de las condiciones de caries en los escolares de Galápagos con la inclusión del cepillado diario en la escuela, supervisado por el docente, y con la aplicación semestral del barniz de flúor. Conclusiones: La prevalencia de caries dental e incidencia después de las acciones tomadas demostrará la importancia de aplicar acciones de prevención y promoción de la salud oral, para crear hábitos de higiene y salud desde edades tempranas.
Asunto(s)
Caries Dental/epidemiología , Fluoruros Tópicos/administración & dosificación , Higiene Bucal , Cepillado Dental/métodos , Cariostáticos/administración & dosificación , Niño , Preescolar , Estudios de Cohortes , Ecuador/epidemiología , Femenino , Humanos , Incidencia , Masculino , Salud Bucal , Prevalencia , Servicios de Salud EscolarRESUMEN
INTRODUCCIÓN: La caries dental es la enfermedad bucal más prevalente en Ecuador. En nuestro país no existen estudios que hayan considerado a la población de las Islas Galápagos. La aplicación de flúor sobre lesiones incipientes de caries dental ha demostrado efectividad para evitar ejecutar procedimientos invasivos restauradores. OBJETIVOS: El objetivo del Estudio de Salud Oral Galápagos, EESO-Gal, es determinar la prevalencia e incidencia de caries dental y evaluar el efecto de la acción del cepillado dental supervisado, acompañado de aplicaciones periódicas de flúor en barniz sobre lesiones cariosas incipientes en escolares de las Islas Galápagos. Con este informe se busca reportar el protocolo del Estudio de Salud Oral Galápagos. MÉTODOS: Se plantea realizar una cohorte con los escolares de las Islas Galápagos para determinar la prevalencia e incidencia de caries con evaluaciones cada seis meses durante veinticuatro meses. RESULTADOS: Se espera determinar la prevalencia e incidencia de caries cada seis meses durante veinticuatro meses en escolares de tres a diez años y obtener datos que permitan evidenciar el estado de las condiciones de caries en los escolares de Galápagos con la inclusión del cepillado diario en la escuela, supervisado por el docente, y con la aplicación semestral del barniz de flúor. CONCLUSIONES: La prevalencia de caries dental e incidencia después de las acciones tomadas demostrará la importancia de aplicar acciones de prevención y promoción de la salud oral, para crear hábitos de higiene y salud desde edades tempranas.
INTRODUCTION: Dental caries is the most prevalent oral disease in Ecuador. In our country, there are no studies that have included the population of the Galapagos Islands. Fluoride application to incipient lesions of dental caries has shown to be effective in avoiding the use of invasive restorative procedures. OBJECTIVES: The objective of the EESO-Gal study is to determine the prevalence and incidence of dental caries and to evaluate the effect of supervised dental brushing, accompanied by periodic applications of fluoride varnish on incipient precarious lesions of schoolchildren in the Galapagos Islands. This article presents the protocol of the EESO-Gal study. METHODS: A cohort is planned with Galapagos Islands schoolchildren to determine the prevalence and incidence of dental caries, with assessments every six months, during twenty-four months. RESULTS: We expect to determine the prevalence and incidence of caries every six months, for twenty-four months, in schoolchildren between three and ten years of age, and obtain data to show the state of the caries conditions in Galapagos schoolchildren, with the inclusion of daily brushing at school, supervised by the teacher, and with the application of fluoride varnish every six months. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of dental caries and incidence after the program will demonstrate the importance of implementing oral health prevention and promotion actions to create hygiene and health habits from an early age.
