Objectives To determine the prevalence, severity and distribution of erosive tooth wear lesions in adult patients at the Universidad de los Andes Health Center in the San Bernardo Metropolitan Region, Chile, during a period of 4 months in 2016. Methods A cross‐sectional study was conducted. A consecutive sample of patients from 18 to 46 years old who were receiving care at the Universidad de los Andes Health Center during a period from September 2016 to January 2017 was analysed. Basic erosive wear examinations (BEWEs) were performed by two calibrated examiners. Results A total of 535 adults were included in this study. An erosive tooth wear prevalence of 97.9% was found in which at least one surface had a BEWE score of 2 or 3 as the highest score (98.56% for females and 95.8% for males). In the sample, 75.70% and 74.77% of individuals had at least one surface with a BEWE score of 3 at the second and fifth sextant, respectively. The median of cumulative BEWE scores was 12. The median by individual of the affected percentage of tooth surfaces with BEWE scores 2 or 3 was 19.70%. Conclusions We found a high prevalence of erosive tooth wear, mainly in the anterior group of teeth. No differences were found between the sexes, but a positive correlation with age was found. The percentage of surfaces affected was low or moderate.

Identifying the risk factors for dental caries is vital in epidemiology and clinical practices for developing effective preventive strategies, both, at the individual and collective levels. Different causality/determination models have been proposed to understand the development process of dental caries. In the present review, we designed a model inspired by the world-known social determinants models proposed in the 90s and more recently in the 10s, wherein the contextual factors are placed more externally and encompass the individual factors. The contextual factors included those related to the cultural and societal values, as well as the social and health government policies. The individual factors were classified into the following categories: socioeconomic (social class, occupation, income, and education level), demographic characteristics (age, sex, and ethnicity), behavioral factors (non-use of fluoride dentifrice, sugar consumption, poor oral hygiene, and lack of preventive dental care), and biological factors (recent caries experience/active caries lesions, biofilm retentive factors, developmental defects of the enamel, disabilities, saliva amount and quality, cariogenic biofilm). Each of these variables was addressed, while focusing on the current evidence from studies conducted in Latin American and Caribbean countries (LACC). Based on the proposed model, educational aspects were addressed, and individual caries risk assessment and management decisions were proposed; further, implications for public health policies and clinical practice were described. The identification of modifiable risk factors for dental caries should be the basis for multi-strategy actions that consider the diversity of Latin American communities.

Periodontal diseases are considered a worldwide public health problem, owing to their high prevalence in developed and developing countries. Periodontitis may lead to tooth loss, which can impact oral health-related quality of life. Gingivitis and periodontitis have been extensively studied regarding their etiopathogenesis, epidemiology, prevention and treatment outcomes. However, most of these aspects are studied and discussed globally, which may hamper a clear interpretation of the findings and the design of effective plans of action for specific regions or populations. For example, in Latin America, epidemiological data about the distribution of periodontal diseases is still scarce, mainly when it comes to nationwide representative samples. This Consensus aimed to address the following topics related to periodontal diseases in Latin America: a) The impact of the global burden of periodontal diseases on health: a global reality; b) Periodontal diseases in Latin America; c) Strategies for the prevention of periodontal diseases in Latin America; d) Problems associated with diagnosis of periodontal conditions and possible solutions for Latin America; e) Treatment of Periodontitis. This consensus will help to increase awareness about diagnosis, prevention and treatment of periodontal diseases, in the context of Latin American countries.

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The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between intrinsic and extrinsic factors and a high cumulative score of the Basic Erosive Wear Examination (BEWE) in a Chilean adult group. A cross-sectional study was performed with the Ethics Committee's approval from the Universidad de los Andes. A consecutive adult (18 to 46 years old) sampling (n = 553) from the Health Center in San Bernardo-Chile, was selected from September 2016 to January 2017. Dental exams were performed by two trained and calibrated examiners, according to the BEWE index. In order to search for potentially related factors, a hetero-applied questionnaire previously developed and evaluated was applied. Our interest was individuals with severe erosion tooth wear (BEWE ≥ 14). Logistic regression models reporting crude odds ratio (OR) and adjusted OR by age, 95% confidence interval (95%CI), and p-values were estimated. Variables, odds ratios and 95% CI related with BEWE ≥ 14 were: age (OR 1.1 [1.07-1.14]); currently drinking alcohol (OR 1.59 [1.06-2.39]); esophagitis ); difficulty to swallow ); chest pain ); anorexia ); vitamin C intake ). Age, alcohol consumption, self-reported esophagitis, history of gastric symptoms, anorexia, and vitamin C intake were related as risk factors to high BEWE scores in this sample of Chilean adults in San Bernardo, Chile.