Dental caries in Uruguayan adults and elders: findings from the first Uruguayan National Oral Health Survey

Abstract

This study aimed to assess dental caries status and associated factors in Uruguayan adults and elders using data from the first Uruguayan National Oral Health Survey. Data were representative of the country as a whole. Socio-demographic information was collected with a closed questionnaire. Dental caries was assessed by clinical examination using the DMFT index. The final sample consisted of 769 participants. Mean DMFT was 15.20 and 24.12 for the 35-44 and 65-74-year age groups, respectively. Mean number of decayed teeth was 1.70 in adults and 0.66 in elders. Multivariate analyses showed higher prevalence of dental caries associated with age 65-74 years, low socioeconomic status, use of public dental services, presence of gingivitis; for decayed teeth, age 35-44 years, low socioeconomic status, use of public dental services, infrequent tooth brushing, need for oral health care, and presence of root caries showed higher severity. Uruguayan adults and elders from disadvantaged backgrounds concentrated a heavier burden of dental caries.

The condition of mineralized tooth tissue of the inhabitants of Szackie Lake District (Ukraine) with regard to the content of silver and chosen microelements in drinking water and the soil

“…The highest value was represented by the MT component which revealed 96.3% of lost teeth [35]. Alvarez et al conducted research among 65-74-year-old citizens of Uruguay and obtained a mean value of D3MFT = 24.12 [34]. The presented study concludes that the mean values of D3MFT and its components were approximate for all the examined patients, and in all age groups, regardless the distance between households and Pisoczno Lake shoreline.…”

“…Urzua et al [33] conducting research in Chile among 35-44year-old inhabitants obtained D3MFT = 15.06. Lower values of the mean D3MFT were also obtained in Uruguay (15.20) [34].…”

Dental caries in South American Indigenous peoples: A systematic review

“…To better understand the disparities in oral health between the Indigenous and nonIndigenous populations, we compared the findings of our meta‐analysis with epidemiological data from several national surveys. Data were pulled from the Brazilian National Oral Health Survey 2010, the First National Dental Examination Survey in Chile 2012 , the Uruguayan National Oral Health Survey 2015, and the Oral health epidemiologic profile among the Venezuelan ethnicities, 2008…”

“…Data on Indigenous health are scarce, and there is no health information system regarding the health conditions of Indigenous peoples in South America . Although some countries have periodically conducted national oral health surveys, these studies have been concentrated in urban populations, excluding Indigenous and rural communities . The epidemiological invisibility related to Indigenous oral health undermines the formulation of health promotion strategies and increases the social vulnerability of these populations.…”

“…2 Although some countries have periodically conducted national oral health surveys, these studies have been concentrated in urban populations, excluding Indigenous and rural communities. [9][10][11][12] The epidemiological invisibility related to Indigenous oral health undermines the formulation of health promotion strategies and increases the social vulnerability of these populations. Thus, it is critical to gather the available data and improve understanding of the burden of disease on these populations.…”