Abstract

Objectives: To compare two surveys across seven states for the prevalence of dental caries among Mexican schoolchildren. Study Design: Analysis of two cross-sectional surveys: Schoolchildren from 6 to 10 years of age were examined in the 1988–1989 survey and 6- to 10-year-old and 12-year-old students were included in the 1998–2001 survey. The baseline data of seven states were available for analysis. Representative probability samples were conducted statewide in both surveys. The World Health Organization (WHO) method was used to obtain the dental caries index (dmft, DMFT). At present, additional and more recent epidemiological data representative statewide in Mexico are unavailable. Results: The participants were 9798 schoolchildren in the 1988–1989 survey and 16882 schoolchildren in the 1998–2001 survey. The prevalence of caries in children ages 6 to 10 years was 86,6% in the first survey and 65,5% in the second survey, showing a 24,4% reduction. The primary teeth index in the first survey was dmft = 3,86 (IC95% 3,68 4,04) and in permanent teeth, it was DMFT = 1,03 (IC95% 0,95 1,11). In the second survey, the comparable values were dmft = 2,36 (IC95% 2,20 2,52) and DMFT = 0,35 (IC95% 0,29 0,40), corresponding to a reduction of 38,89% and 66,02% in the primary and permanent dentition, respectively. Treatment needs remain high: In the second survey, as 92,75% of the index DMFT was conformed as decayed teeth. Conclusion: Overall, we detected a downward trend in the dental caries indices, particularly in the permanent dentition. The increase in the availability of fluoride likely contributed to the observed decline in dental caries. Key words:Schoolchildren, dental caries, treatment needs, salt fluoridation, Mexico.

Highlights

  • Diseases of the oral cavity produce deterioration in quality of life, causing discomfort, pain, and functional limitations

  • According to the data from the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2002, the global burden of oral diseases in years lost to disability was 7372

  • There is one dentist for every 8911 persons, and the Ministry of Health has only 3772 dental facilities in the country. These resources are insufficient to cope with dental caries treatment needs in Mexico

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Summary

Introduction

Diseases of the oral cavity produce deterioration in quality of life, causing discomfort, pain, and functional limitations. There is one dentist for every 8911 persons, and the Ministry of Health has only 3772 dental facilities in the country These resources are insufficient to cope with dental caries treatment needs in Mexico. The comparison of the 1988–89 and 1999–2001 Mexican surveys, considering the seven states not studied so far, might provide useful information on the trend of dental caries in Mexico and offer pertinent data for the evaluation of preventive strategies and dental services. The purpose of this study is to compare the results of prevalence and severity of dental caries in Mexican schoolchildren from seven states obtained in the 1988– 1989 and 1998–2001 surveys to identify trends of this disease

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