Caries Experience and Treatment Needs in Urban and Rural Environments in School-Age Children from Three Provinces of Ecuador: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

In Ecuador, national epidemiological surveys have not been updated; however, some regional studies in the northern areas of the country still report a high prevalence of dental caries. The aim of this study was to determine the experience, severity, and need for treatment of dental caries in school children aged 6 to 12 years in urban and rural settings in three provinces of southern Ecuador. This cross-sectional, relational study examined 1938 schoolchildren in the provinces of Azuay, Cañar, and Morona Santiago. The survey instruments were based mainly on the WHO manual Methods of Oral Health Surveys (dmft) for primary and permanent dentition (DMFT), as well as the prevalence, severity, and Significant Caries Index (SCI). The parametric Student’s t-test was used to compare two groups, and the Spearman’s Rho and Tau-c Kendall correlation coefficients were used to associate the categorical variables. Results: The prevalence of caries in the primary dentition was 78% and 89.2% in the permanent dentition. The dmft (M = 4.12, SD = 2.86) and DMFT (M = 3.62: SD = 3.07) placed the general group in a moderate caries index. The need for treatment was 90.68% in the primary dentition, while it was 87.99% in the permanent dentition. Caries severity in both dentitions was high (M = 7.74; SD = 3.42). Conclusions. Alarming indicators of caries experience and the need for treatment were observed in the population studied.

Propuesta educativa para mejorar la higiene bucal en niños

“…En complemento, en Ecuador se observaron indicadores alarmantes de experiencia de caries y necesidad de tratamiento en la población estudiada. 10 En otro estudio realizado en Ecuador, la prevalencia de caries superó el 87% en la dentición primaria y permanente. No hubo diferencias significativas según provincia (p ≤ 0,05).…”

Distribution of Dental Fluorosis in the Southern Zone of Ecuador: An Epidemiological Study

“…The roughness of the affected enamel surfaces due to the consistent effect of DF constitutes a site of accumulation of bacterial plaque and food deposit, causing the development of carious processes [ 50 ] that, according to previous studies referenced and executed in Ecuador, has shown a frequent presence both in decidual dentition and in definitive teeth [ 28 ]. In thus grave state, an intervention of restorative treatments is required [ 51 ], creating a higher cost for the intervention at dental clinics, and there is a shared tendency towards a constant restoration circle, mainly because poor development related to the buccal cavity is generally associated with a lack of proper hygienic habits performed by the patient and a low level of health knowledge in their carers [ 52 ]. In addition to this fact, the aesthetic alterations that the presence of the pathology produces trigger a decrease in the quality of life of the individuals who suffer [ 53 ].…”

Caries Experience in Preschoolers in Three Ecuadorian Communities

“…However, more recent studies utilizing the ICDAS criteria [24,25,35] have consistently demonstrated that the geographical location of one's residence has a significant impact on health indicators. Specifically, it has been observed that rural areas face specific challenges in terms of accessing healthcare services and having an adequate availability of specialized medical personnel [24]. These geographical disparities greatly influence the quality of medical care received and, ultimately, the health outcomes of the population [11].…”

“…Parallel to the increase in childhood malnutrition, there has been a rise in the prevalence of chronic diseases such as obesity. Regarding oral diseases, dental caries in children has shown high levels of prevalence and experience [24,25]. Although studies focusing specifically on preschool-aged children are limited in the country, a strong association has been found between low maternal education and a higher prevalence and severity of dental caries in children from rural indigenous communities [26][27][28].…”