Dental caries in Mexican schoolchildren: a comparison of 1988-1989 and 1998-2001 surveys

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 (AU)

Dental caries in Mexican schoolchildren: a comparison of 1988-1989 and 1998-2001 surveys.

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.

Dental caries, tooth eruption timing and obesity: a longitudinal study in a group of Mexican schoolchildren.

OBJECTIVES: To identify the possible association between dental caries and body mass index (BMI) and to explore the effect of BMI on tooth eruption in a cohort of elementary schoolchildren. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A 4-year longitudinal study was completed. A total of 110 children from a public elementary school, located in a middle-income area of Mexico City, entered the study; of these, 88 completed the 4-year follow-up period. Dental caries assessments were carried out using the WHO criteria for decayed, missing and filled primary and permanent teeth indices (dmft and DMFT, respectively) and surface indices (dmfs and DMFS, respectively). BMI was used to classify the children's obesity status, according to the Centers for Disease Control 2000 reference charts. RESULTS: At 7 years of age, 29.6% of the children were in the overweight or at risk of being overweight categories and, by 11 years of age, this proportion had risen to 45.5%. The mean dmft for children aged 7 years was 2.70 and, for children aged 11 years, the DMFT was 0.54. Children in the higher BMI categories had more erupted teeth than the other children (p < 0.001). A lower dmfs index was detected in the overweight children, compared with children with a lower BMI (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The overweight children had more erupted teeth and a lower caries index. The complex relationships between body composition and oral health should be considered in pediatric patients.

Caries dental y enfermedad periodontal en un grupo de personas de 60 o más años de edad de la Ciudad de México / Dental caries and periodontal disease in a group of persons with 60 year-old or more living in Mexico city

Los cambios demográficos de nuestro país indican que la proporción guardada por el grupo de la tercera edad con respecto al resto de la población está en aumento. En México no se cuenta con suficiente información sobre el estado de salud bucal de este grupo de población. El propósito del presente trabajo fue estimar la prevalencia y severidad de caries dental así como el estado de salud periodontal en personas de 60 o más años de edad de la Ciudad de México. Se utilizaron los criterios de la Organización Mundial de la Salud para el levantamiento del índice de caries (CPOD) y del estado parodontal (CPITN). Se examinó a un total de 161 personas, el promedio de edad de la población fue de 69.6 (d.e. 6.9) años. El 23.6 por ciento de la población era edéntula. El índice de caries dental CPOD fue de 16.3 (d.e. 6.7). El índice CPITN mostró que aproximadamente el 50 por ciento de la población tenía bolsas parodontales. Los resultados del presente estudio muestran un importante deterioro en la salud bucal de la población examinada