Experience, Prevalence, and Severity of Dental Caries in Mexican Preschool and School-Aged Children.

Objective Dental caries in Mexico continues to be a public health problem, indicated by it is high prevalence and incidence in children. This disease is associated with pain in preschool and school children, with large-scale consequences for the individual, society, and health systems. The objective of the present study was to determine the experience (mean of caries indices), prevalence, and severity of caries in children 2-12 years of age who sought dental care at a dental school in Mexico. Material and methods A cross-sectional study was carried out on 826 clinical records of patients ages 2-12 years. The dependent variable was caries, in terms of experience (mean primary teeth (dmft) and permanent teeth (DMFT) indices), prevalence (dmft and DMFT greater than 0), and severity (cutoffs of caries indices at various levels). The independent variables were age and sex. The data were analyzed in Stata 14 (StataCorp LLC, College Station, Texas). Results The average age was 7.2±2.3; 52.4% were boys. In the primary dentition, the caries experience (mean dmft) was 3.01±3.30, the prevalence of caries was 65.8%, and the severity dmft>3=37.3% and dmft>6=15.6%. In the permanent dentition, the caries experience (mean DMFT) was 0.99±1.88, the prevalence of caries was 31.5%, and the severity DMFT>3=12.5% ​​and DMFT>6=1.6%. The percentage of caries-free children in both dentitions was 26.1% (n=216/826). The experience, prevalence, and severity of caries were statistically different by age (p<0.001). Only in the severity of dmft>3 were differences observed across sex (p<0.05). Among children with mixed dentition, primary teeth were more affected than permanent teeth (2.46±2.87 vs 0.88±1.61; p<0.0001). Conclusions About seven out of 10 children were affected by cavities in either or both dentitions. It was observed that age was positively associated with dental caries, equally affecting girls and boys. In this sample, the primary dentition was impacted more than the permanent dentition. Despite being preventable, dental caries continues to be a health problem in children.

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.

Edentulismo en adultos de Pachuca, México: aspectos sociodemográficos y socioeconómicos / Edentulism in Mexican adults: sociodemographic and socioeconomic aspects

Introducción La pérdida de dientes se ha convertido en un problema de salud pública bucal. Objetivo Determinar la prevalencia y distribución del edentulismo, así como las variables sociodemográficas y socioeconómicas asociadas en individuos de 35 años y más. Materiales y métodos Se realizó un estudio transversal en 656 sujetos seleccionados de forma aleatoria. En el estudio se incluyeron hombres y mujeres de 35 años y más, asistentes a las clínicas de atención dental de la Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo (UAEH), una universidad pública de México. Para la realización de este estudio los examinadores fueron capacitados en la cumplimentación de los cuestionarios y estandarizados en el criterio diagnóstico de la pérdida de dientes. La variable dependiente fue el edentulismo. Los datos fueron analizados en Stata 11. Resultados El promedio de edad fue de 49,06 ± 10,33. Los individuos fueron principalmente mujeres (63,3%). La prevalencia general de edentulismo fue de 15,7% (IC 95%: 12,9-18,5); entre las mujeres fue de 17,6% y en los hombres de 12,5% (p = 0,081). La prevalencia de edentulismo fue mayor entre los sujetos de más edad (p < 0,001). Se observó que a mayor escolaridad (p < 0,001), a mejor nivel socioeconómico (p < 0,001) y en quienes tuvieron automóvil en el hogar (p < 0,05), la prevalencia de edentulismo fue menor. Conclusiones La prevalencia de edentulismo en adultos mayores de 35 años que acuden a las clínicas de esta universidad fue del 15,7%. Se observó diferencia de la prevalencia de edentulismo por edad, pero no por sexo. Se observaron diferencias socioeconómicas, sugiriendo ciertas desigualdades en salud bucal.

Introduction Tooth loss has become a problem of oral health. Objective To determine the prevalence and distribution of edentulism, as well as the associated sociodemographic and socioeconomic variables in subjects aged 35 and older. Materials and methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on 656 randomly selected subjects. The study included men and women aged 35 years and older attending dental care clinics at a public university in Mexico. Examiners were trained in filling out questionnaires and receiving training in order to standardise the criteria of tooth loss. The dependent variable was the presence of edentulism. The data were analysed using Stata 11. Results The mean age of the population was 49.06 ± 10.33 years, and the majority (63.3%) were women. The overall prevalence of edentulism was 15.7% (95% CI: 12.9-18.5%); the prevalence among women was 17.6% and the prevalence among men was 12.5% (P = .081). The prevalence of edentulism was higher among older subjects (P < .001). The prevalence of edentulism was lower among individuals with higher levels of education (P < .001), those with higher socioeconomic status (P < .001), and those who had a car at home (P < 0.05) Conclusions The prevalence of edentulism in adults over 35 years of age attending dental care clinics at this public university was 15.7%. Differences were observed in the prevalence of edentulism by age, but not by gender. Socioeconomic differences were observed, suggesting certain oral health inequalities.

Socioeconomic, sociodemographic, and clinical variables associated with root caries in a group of persons age 60 years and older in Mexico.

AIM: To determine the prevalence of root caries and the root caries index in a population of older Mexicans, and its relationship to socioeconomic, sociodemographic and dental factors. METHODS: We carried out a cross-sectional study in 85 persons 60 years and older living either in long-term care facilities, or independently and attending an elder day-care group. Each subject underwent an oral examination, performed by a trained and standardized dentist, to determine the root caries index and other clinical variables. Questionnaires were administered to collect socioeconomic, sociodemographic and hygiene data. Statistical analyses were performed using non-parametric tests. RESULTS: The prevalence of root caries was 96.5%. The root caries index was 37.7% ± 21.7%. Statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) of root caries index were observed across residential arrangements and marital statuses, and were higher in publicly funded long-term care and among single subjects (P < 0.05). Those who had poor hygiene had more root caries (P < 0.05); persons with a low level of schooling and who brushed their teeth less frequently also showed a difference (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of root caries was very high. The type of long-term care, marital status, schooling and oral hygiene were associated with a higher root caries index. Oral health programs and preventive caries interventions are needed for this age group in general; targeted strategies may be better focused if sociodemographic profiles are used to characterize high need groups.

Introducing a clinical-behavioural scoring system for children's oral hygiene.

OBJECTIVES: Developing and testing a clinical-behavioural scoring system for assessing children's oral hygiene. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One clinical variable (the presence of dental plaque, measured using Silness and Loe's index) and one behavioural variable (self-reported tooth brushing frequency) were combined into secondary data analysis of research databases for 3-6-year-olds and 6-13-year-olds in a Mexican community. The combined scoring is an ordinal scale that depicts suitable, moderate and inadequate hygiene. Blinded dental examiners also collected dmft/DMFT data in standardised conditions. Data was analysed with Spearman's rho, Kruskall-Wallis, non-parametric tests for trends and Pearson's chi2 tests. RESULTS: 1303 children aged 3-6 years old and 1644 children aged 6-13 years old participated in the study. Clear relationships existed between the combined scoring system and dmft (p < 0.01) and between the scoring system and DMFT (p < 0.01), suggesting that the combined clinical-behavioural scoring system is a reasonably accurate measurement of the relationship between caries experience and oral hygiene in children in the given setting. CONCLUSIONS: The combined clinical-behavioural scoring system is a simple, easy-to-use tool that incorporates clinical and behavioural data commonly found in dental systems. Whether the clinical-behavioural scoring system can be generalised remains to be established.

Dental attrition and associated factors in adolescents 14 to 19 years of age: a pilot study.

PURPOSE: This cross-sectional study evaluated the relationship between attrition and diverse variables in 390 Mexican adolescents aged 14 to 19 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An ordinal scoring system was used to describe the severity of attrition. RESULTS: Attrition prevalence was 33.3% and was associated with older age, presence of defective restorations, Class II malocclusion, and perception of stress level. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that attrition is present in 1 of every 3 adolescents.