We can conclude that oral mucosal lesions are common in elderly people in Santiago, suggesting the necessity for improved standards of prevention, and diagnostic and opportune treatment of these lesions.

The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of dental caries, tooth loss, and risk factors among adult population of Chile. Furthermore, age, gender, and behavioural specific differences in caries prevalence and tooth loss were examined. A national stratified multistage probabilistic sample design in two-age cohorts was applied to the Chilean population. A sample of 1553 adults, comprising 1088 individuals aged 35–44 and 465 senior individuals aged 65–74, were examined. The DMFT was evaluated following WHO recommendations using diagnostic criteria of caries lesions into dentin. The data were analyzed by univariate and multivariate models using logistic regression analyses. Results showed a mean DMFT of 15.06 in the 35–44-year-old group and of 21.57 in the 65–74 group. Factors related to tooth loss in the 35–44 group through univariate logistic regression were depression (OR 1.9 CI 95% 1.26–2.85), education level <12 years (OR 2.24 CI 95% 1.31–3.73), personal income (OR 1.51 CI 95% 1.04–2.19), and familiar income (OR 2.05 CI 95% 1.34–3.13), and through multivariate logistic regression in the same age group were depression (OR 1.93 CI 95% 1.24–3.0), education level <12 years (OR 1.94 CI 95% 1.2–3.14), and familiar income (OR 1.71 CI 95% 1.09–2.68). Factors related to tooth loss in the 65–74-year-old group through univariate logistic regression were education level <12 years (OR 2.54 CI 95% 1.3–4.96) and personal income (OR 1.66 CI 95% 1.05–2.63), and for multivariate logistic regression in the same age group, it was education level <12 years (OR 2.51 CI 95% 1.21–5.18). In conclusion, adult population in Chile showed a high prevalence of dental caries and tooth loss, as age, education level, personal and familiar incomes, and depression are being the main risk factors.

The adult population in Chile shows a high prevalence and extension of clinical AL with age, sex, education level, and smoking as the main risk indicators of severe clinical AL in this population.

Validation of the whoqol-bref quality of life questionnaire among Chilean older people (Rev Med Chile 2011; 139: 579-586).

There is a considerable variation in the magnitude of inequalities in tooth loss across the countries included in this analysis.

The histopathological study of periapical pathosis can occasionally reveal nonendodontic lesions. Odontogenic tumours made up the largest group.

BackgroundThe co-occurrence of caries and periodontitis and a possible association is still a matter of debate. Thus, the aim of the study was to determine the co-occurrence of caries and periodontitis in Chilean adults.MethodsEvaluation of periodontal and dental status in 994 adults (35–44 years old) based on the First Chilean National Examination Survey 2007–2008. The prevalence of caries was defined as the percentage of participants with one or more teeth with untreated caries by using the D component of the DMFT index (DT ≠ 0). The prevalence of periodontitis was determined using standard case definitions for population-based surveillance of periodontitis described by the CDC–AAP.ResultsIndividuals with caries had an approximately 40% higher prevalence of severe (29.3% vs 20.8%, p < 0.05) and a 13% higher prevalence of total periodontitis (89.3% vs 78.4%, p < 0.05) than those without caries. Ordinal logistic regression revealed a positive association between periodontitis and the number of teeth with caries (DT ≠ 0; 3 or 4 teeth with caries: OR 1.74; CI = 1.12–2.29 p < 0.05; 5 or more teeth with caries: OR 2.47; CI = 1.66–3.67 p < 0.01).ConclusionDental caries is associated with the severity and prevalence of periodontitis in Chilean adults. Individuals with 3 or more teeth with untreated caries are more likely to suffer from periodontal disease.

BackgroundMany gingival lesions are not induced by plaque. The aim of this study was to analyze the frequency of biopsied non-plaque-induced gingival lesions (NPIGL) in a Chilean population.MethodsOne thousand twelve cases of biopsied gingival lesions with confirmed anatomopathologic diagnosis were included, from the records of the Oral Pathology Referral Institute (OPRI), Faculty of Dentistry, University of Chile, between years 1990 and 2009.ResultsThe most frequent non plaque-induced gingival lesions categories from biopsied cases included hyperplastic lesions, malignancies and benign neoplasms. The most frequent diagnoses in each category were fibrous hyperplasia (35.47%), squamous cell carcinoma (3.85%) and giant cell fibroma (2.08%), respectively. From all lesions, only 8.3% fitted in the specified categories of the current classification of periodontal diseases.ConclusionsThe most frequent biopsied NPIGL were hyperplastic lesions and neoplasms. These categories represent relevant lesions to be included in a future periodontal classification system to improve the care needs of the patients, as well as early diagnosis and treatment.