Root caries analysis in working population of 35-44 years of age (Spain).

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to analyse the influence of socio-demographic variables, toothbrushing frequency, frequency of snacking between meals, and tobacco and alcohol consumption, in root caries in the Spanish working population of Valencia and Murcia regions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cross sectional study of 458 workers 35-44 years of age, who underwent a routine work-related check-up, from June 2009 to April 2010, and were also examined, following the WHO methodology, by a calibrated dentist. Stratified random sampling. Participants fulfilled a questionnaire comprising demographic data, toothbrushing frequency, snacking frequency and tobacco and alcohol consumption. RESULTS: The DFS index (root caries) in the employed population of 35-44 years was 0.45 ± 1.3, with a root caries prevalence of 18.6% and an active root caries prevalence of 13.5%. Higher root caries prevalence and active root caries prevalence were associated with male gender, manual occupations, foreign country of origin, lower levels of education and income, lower brushing frequency and higher frequency of snacking between meals. The DFS index was associated with all studied socio-demographic variables, but gender, and it was also associated with brushing frequency. The mean number of root decayed teeth was associated with all socio-demographic variables, but country of origin, and it was also associated with brushing frequency. CONCLUSIONS: Adult workers 35-44 years of age showed worse root condition in regard to caries than general population of this age cohort. In this study, the frequency of toothbrushing and snacking between meals were the variables that influenced more in root caries.

[Evaluation of the cost of an intensive medicine unit. Relationship between the cost and the severity of the disease]. / Valoración del coste de una unidad de medicina intensiva. Relación del coste con la gravedad del enfermo.

BACKGROUND: The evaluation of the costs of intensive care is a subject of interest at present, due to the high resources required by this area of health care services and the rhythm at which these costs increase. Such an evaluation has rarely been carried out in Spain. The aim of this study was to quantify the cost of medical care to critical patients in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in addition to evaluate the relationship between the severity of the disease and the short term result of intensive health care. METHODS: A prospective study was carried out in 1,184 patients admitted (February 1985-February 1986) to the ICU of the Hospital General de Especialidades Virgen de las Nieves in Granada (Spain). Variables collected were the severity of the patient (APACHE II), therapeutic intensity (TISS) received, diagnosis on admission and state on discharge. A detailed and individualized evaluation was performed concerning the costs of hospital stay and treatment in the ICU. RESULTS: The cost per patient per day in the ICU was found to 54,438 pesetas in 1988. A significant association was demonstrated with age, severity, therapeutic intensity and the result of the stay in the unit, being much higher in the patients who died in the ICU, particularly in those in whom the prognosis "a priori" was good. CONCLUSIONS: A significant relation was found between the cost and severity of the disease, with the maximum costs being found in patients in whom survival was expected but who died and vice versa.

[Minimal criteria of epidemiologic studies of dental health of school children]. / Criterios mínimos de los estudios epidemiológicos de salud dental en escolares.

Epidemiological studies of oral health in schools constitute a basic instrument for planning prevention and dental health programs. This paper sets forth some minimum common elements in the design, execution, and analysis of such studies, and presents a method for the adjustment of examining teams, index ages, diagnostic criteria, classification of dental malocclusions, and indicators for analysis of results.

Prevalence of dental enamel defects in celiac patients with deciduous dentition: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence of unspecific and systematic enamel defects in children with deciduous dentition diagnosed with celiac disease compared with a control group. STUDY DESIGN: Thirty children (mean age 3.6 yrs) diagnosed with celiac disease and a reference group (n = 30; mean age 3.8 yrs) were studied to determine the prevalence of enamel defects. Both groups had complete deciduous dentition. Unspecific and systematic enamel defects were evaluated according to Aine criteria. RESULTS: Enamel defects were detected in 83.3% of the celiac children versus 53.3% of the control children (P = .025). The corresponding figures for symmetric defects were 73.3% and 23.3% (P < .001), respectively. The most frequent defect severity classification was Aine grade 1. Dental enamel defects were most frequently detected in deciduous molars (45.1%), followed by deciduous incisors. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed significantly more systematic enamel defects in children with celiac disease and deciduous dentition compared with a control group in the same stage of dentition. Dental examination of these defects may be useful to alert for this disease.

[Absolute or relative isolation for fissure sealants? 12-month clinical study]. / Aislamiento absoluto o relativo en selladores de fisuras? Estudio clínico a los 12 meses.

The purpose of this clinical study is to analyse the effectiveness of a sealant. Rubber dam and cotton roll methods of isolation where compared with respect to the effect of isolation method on retreatment and protection from caries during 12 months. We study the cost effectiveness ratio for both methods of isolation. The results could not be substantiated any differences between two methods.

[Fissure sealants versus fluorine varnish on the first permanent molars: economic assessment]. / Selladores de fisuras frente a barniz de flúor en primeros molares permanentes: evaluación económica.

OBJECTIVE: To study school-children between the ages of 6 and 8 in order to make an economic comparison between two programmes aimed at preventing caries in the first permanent molars: sealants or fluorine varnish. DESIGN: A field trial over 24 months, with three groups of school-children (sealant/varnish/control). SETTING: Primary Care in the school environment (Granada). PATIENTS: 362 school-children between 6 and 8: 314 were followed for 24 months (100 sealant, 98 varnish and 116 control group). INTERVENTION: Sealant and fluorine varnish on the first healthy permanent molars, with weekly reapplications, using portable equipment. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The increase was measured over a 24-month period in both the DMFT (the total of the first permanent molars either with caries, missing because of caries or sedice filled) and the DMFS (DMFT, but referring to the surface) indexes. In relation to the DMFT, the effectiveness of the sealant (difference in increase of DMFT between the sealed and control groups) was -1.06 (Standard Error = 0.16) and of the varnish, -0.58 (SE = 0.18), which were statistically different figures. For DMFS, the effectiveness of the sealant was -1.83 (SE = 0.28) and of the varnish, 1.10 (SE = 0.33), also different. The costs per school-child did not differ sealant: 4,524 pesetas (SD = 1,248), and varnish: 4,373 (SD = 1,267). The cost/effectiveness ratio favored the sealant (4,268 pesetas per molar saved against 7,540). CONCLUSIONS: The sealant is more efficient (twice that of the varnish). The cost of saving a molar is 4,268 pesetas.