Parents' sense of coherence in the use of dental services by children aged 12 years old in the city Manaus/AM

Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between the sense of coherence (SOC) of parents/guardians and the use of dental services by children who are 12 years old. Methods This is a cross-sectional study conducted in the eastern zone of the city of Manaus, with 358 children enrolled in the 7th grade in the municipal public school system. Data collection was performed through self-administered questionnaires sent to parents/guardians, which contained questions about socioeconomic conditions, use of dental services by children and Antonovsky's SOC-13 scale. Data were examined by descriptive and bivariate analysis, using the Chi-square test, with a 5% significance level. Results Of the 358 children, 58.4% were female; in addition, 75.4% of the parents/guardians self-reported to be brown and 39.9% of them had a family income of ½ to 1 minimum wage. SOC was categorized as strong SOC and weak SOC by the median. The association between strong or weak SOC and the use of dental services in terms of frequency (p= 0.839) and reason for last visit (p= 0.384), was not significant. Conclusion It was concluded that SOC of parents/guardians and utilization of dental services by children were not associated.

Prevalence of dental caries, periodontal disease, malocclusion, and tooth wear in indigenous populations in Brazil: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract The aim of this review was to evaluate the prevalence of dental caries, periodontal disease, malocclusion, and tooth wear in indigenous in Brazil. A systematic review of observational studies was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines (CRD42020218704). The search strategy involved the electronic databases of Embase, LILACS, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and the CAPES Theses and Dissertations for gray literature. The eligibility criteria consisted of publications that assessed the prevalence of oral conditions in indigenous populations in Brazil. Studies with indigenous people living in urban area were excluded. The risk of bias was evaluated by using JBI Critical Appraisal for prevalence studies. Thirty studies were included in the review, and the majority showed a low risk of bias. A meta-analysis of 20 studies was conducted using the random-effects model and a 95% confidence interval. Several ethnicities were studied in isolation or in groups (n = 7,627 for dental caries; n = 2,774 for periodontal disease; n = 1,067 for malocclusion; n = 150 for tooth wear). The prevalence of caries ranged from 50% among indigenous people aged 18-36 months to 100% among those aged 65-74 years. The prevalence of periodontal disease ranged from 58% to 83%. The prevalence of malocclusion was 43%. Tooth wear was assessed in only one ethnic group and showed a prevalence of 100% in indigenous people aged >18 years. The certainty of evidence assessed by the GRADE system ranged from very low to moderate. This systematic review showed significant differences in the prevalence of dental caries, periodontal disease and malocclusion between indigenous population groups and territories in which indigenous people live.

Fluoride Concentration in Public Water Supply in a City in the Amazon Region

Abstract Objective: To analyze the fluoride concentration in the public water supply in Manaus, Brazil. Material and Methods: Water samples were collected in 50 mL polyethylene bottles, identified, and labeled. The collection was performed from September 2016 to August 2018. For the selection of collection points, all neighborhoods of the city of Manaus, divided into four health districts (North, South, East, and West), were mapped. From each district, 30 samples were collected, totaling 120 monthly samples. Water samples were analyzed using an ion analyzer, ORION 720-A, and a specific electrode, ORION 96-09. The ion analyzer and electrode were calibrated in standard solutions. The levels were classified in intervals based on technical consensus to guide the health surveillance agencies. Results: Of the 2,874 water samples, 50.3% were within the recommended range, and 49.7% were inadequate, with 31.6% considered above the parameters and 18.1% below. Among the districts, the North had the highest percentages of unsatisfactory samples, resulting in limited action to prevent tooth decay. During the 24 months of analysis, there were large oscillations in the values in all four districts of Manaus. Conclusion: Results reinforce the importance of heterocontrol for the city to guarantee the effectiveness of this public health measure.