First dental consultation in pediatric patients. Machalilla, period September 2022 to July 2023

Abstract

Dental caries is the most prevalent oral disease, and the main cause of tooth loss and its sequelae, in pediatric age. In Ecuador it is reported that 45% of children between 1 and 9 years old have cavities in untreated temporary teeth. The objective was to determine the age and reason for the first dental consultation in pediatric patients, in the parish of Machalilla, province of Manabí, Ecuador, in the period september 2022 to july 2023. A descriptive study was carried out that included all children aged 0 – 14 years who received a dental consultation for the first time in the First Level Health Center, or in extramural visits in the community. All guardians and caregivers signed the informed consent for their dental care. During the period, 54 patients were treated, 35 (64.9%) in extramural visits and 19 (35.1%) in the dental office, the majority in the age group of 1-4 years, with 26 (48.1%) children, and the main reason for consultation was for a dental examination, 39 (72.3%) children. From the clinical examination carried out, it was determined that 37 children (68.5%) had dental caries and needed conservative restorative treatments or tooth extraction. The results indicate that it is necessary to improve health education and oral disease prevention actions in the pediatric population of Machalilla, involving their guardians and caregivers from an early age