Abstract
Introduction: Oral diseases affect some 3.9 billion people worldwide, the most prevalent are dental caries, gingivitis, and periodontitis. Untreated dental caries lesions affect 35% of the population. Objective: To determine the level of severity of dental caries lesions in adults treated at public dental services in the cities of Asunción and Pirayú, Paraguay, in 2017. Material and Methods: Sociodemographic and clinical variables of oral health status were evaluated by means of a cross-sectional study using consecutive sampling. Two dentists were calibrated to perform the oral examination. Caries experience was evaluated using the DMF-T index. The Chi square test and Fisher's exact test were applied, with a confidence level of 95%. Results: 333 subjects with a mean age of 35 years participated in the study, 77.2% were females, and 64.0% did not have access to private health care services. The DMF-T index was 11.43 (SD=6.7); 12.6% obtained a very low level, 35.7% low level, 41.7% had a medium level, and 9.9% had a high level in the DMF-T index. The DMF-T index was significantly higher in females (p=0.001), in the age range of 50 to 59 years (p<0.001), in those who did not have access to private health services (p=0.008), in those who reported a negative self-evaluation of their oral health (p=0.04), in those with a normal molar ratio (p=0.023) and a very severe aesthetic index (p<0.001). Conclusion: The general level of severity of global caries was medium and associated with sociodemographic and clinical variables.
Highlights
Oral diseases affect some 3.9 billion people worldwide, the most prevalent are dental caries, gingivitis, and periodontitis
The DMF-T index was significantly higher in females (p=0.001), in the age range of 50 to 59 years (p
This level remained fairly stable according to the results of the national oral health surveys carried out in 2008,5 2014,2 and 2017.6 In studies conducted in adults over 60 years of age living in nursing homes in the city of San Lorenzo in 2011,7 83.3% had more than 18 missing teeth, and 33.3% were totally edentulous
Summary
Oral diseases affect some 3.9 billion people worldwide, the most prevalent are dental caries, gingivitis, and periodontitis. Regarding the oral health status of the Paraguayan population, when caries experience was measured in indigenous Paraguayans in the year 1984, a DMF-T of 8.67 was obtained at 20-24 years of age, 9.10 at 2529 years, 8.67 at 30-34 years, 9.64 at 35-40 years, and 9.84 in those older than 40 years.[3] In 12-yearold children from 1994 to 2003, Paraguay obtained an intermediate level of caries.[4] This level remained fairly stable according to the results of the national oral health surveys carried out in 2008,5 2014,2 and 2017.6 In studies conducted in adults over 60 years of age living in nursing homes in the city of San Lorenzo in 2011,7 83.3% had more than 18 missing teeth, and 33.3% were totally edentulous. In 2013, a study conducted on those who lived in state-run nursing homes in the metropolitan area of Asunción showed that 44.8% presented total edentulism.[8]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
