Trends and spatial distribution of oral cancer mortality in São Paulo, Brazil, 1980-1998.

We assessed oral cancer mortality data in São Paulo to study trends of the disease and its distribution by areas of the city. We standardized death rates by gender and age group, and also supplied complementary information regarding oral cancer incidence. Oral cancer mortality remained stationary at high levels during the study period. Site-specific death rates revealed high figures for two categories of site: tongue and unspecified parts of mouth. Gum cancer death rates--the most easily diagnosed site-specific oral cancer at a routine dental examination--fell sharply, possibly as a consequence of the recent expansion in community dental health services in the city. In spite of this observation, the increase of death rates related to unspecified parts of the mouth points to the deficiencies of health services in detecting most of oral cancer cases early. Spatial data analysis enabled indication of areas and socio-economic factors associated with poorer profile in oral cancer mortality, important information for the targeting of health resources directed to the screening, prevention and education in oral cancer.

[The relationship between oral habits and malocclusion in preschool children]. / Relação entre hábitos bucais e má oclusão em pré-escolares.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the way oral habits and speech problems affect dental occlusion in preschool children. METHODS: A random sample of 2,139 boys and girls aged 3-5 years old was evaluated. The children were enrolled in private and state institutions in the city of Bauru, São Paulo State, Brazil. The cross-sectional study was developed in two steps: occlusion assessment, and a questionnaire about their social and economic status. The occlusal anatomical-functional characteristics assessment was done according to Angle classification. Additionally, overjet, overbite, crowding, anterior open bite, posterior crossbite, and anterior crossbite were evaluated. A sub-sample of 618 children filled out the questionnaire. The prevalence of malocclusion and some variables of exposure were tested by bivariate analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of malocclusion was 51.3% for boys and 56.9% for girls. There was no difference related to gender. In regard to age, there was a higher prevalence of malocclusion in the 3 year-old group, which decreased significantly with age (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Among the environmental factors evaluated, the habit of sucking a pacifier was the most important in the association with malocclusion (OR=5.46) followed by the habit of sucking fingers (OR=1.54). Speech problems did not show any influence in malocclusion occurrence.

Uso de prótese e grau de satisfação com a condição bucal no cotidiano de trabalhadores de Bragança Paulista-SP - Brasil / Use of prostheses and degree of satisfaction with mouth condition in the daily activities of the workers of Bragança Paulista-SP - Brasil

Mediante um indicador sociodental, desenvolvido por Adulyanon e Sheiham, os autores mediram os resultados das condições orais dos comerciários da cidade de Bragança Paulista. Este indicador de Impactos Orais nas Performance Diárias (IOPD) é observado avaliando-se nove aspectos físicos, psicológicos e sociais das atividades diárias, registrando não só o desempenho oral (saúde) de cada indivíduo mas, também, provendo dados para avaliar os serviços de saúde bucal nesta população. No registro do cadastro de Associados dos Comerciários do SPC, encontram-se 507 estabelecimentos, tendo sido escolhidos aleatoriamente 12,5 por cento destes estabelecimentos (65). Em cada estabelecimento visitado foi aplicado o teste em dois funcionários. Um de 18 a 30 anos, não sendo portador de nenhuma prótese e o outro acima de 30 anos, possuindo algum dos três tipos de próteses [Total, Parcial Fixa (com pôntico ou elemento isolado) e Parcial Removível] ou necessitando delas. Os autores concluíram que os usuários de próteses fraturadas, ou que necessitavam de reajuste da base, relatavam comprometimento na qualidade de vida diária. Os trabalhadores entrevistados mostraram maior insatisfação com a boca e os dentes, quando afetavam sua vida social (sorrir 29,62 por cento, estabilidade emocional 27,77 por cento e trabalho no comércio 25,92 por cento) do que com uma satisfação pessoal (dormir, atividades fisícas e limpar os dentes)

[Taste preference for sweets and caries prevalence in preschool children]. / Preferências por alimentos doces e cárie dentária em pré-escolares.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the preference for sweetness among preschool children and differences between less and more deprived groups. In addition, to assess whether sweet taste preference was associated with presence of caries. METHODS: The sample was composed by 572 preschool children aged between 4 and 6, distributed in three day nurseries of varied socioeconomic background. Cross-sectional study developed in two steps. Preference for sweetness was assessed using a modified version of the Sweet Preference Inventory. The solutions varied in sugar concentration from 0 to 1,17 molar (0 to 400 g / litre). The presence of caries was assessed using the defs index. The socioeconomic status of the sample was classified according to the origin of domicile. RESULTS: The variation in preference for sweetness in our sample was too small. Most children preferred the sweetest juice. This reduced the ability of this variable to explain variation in caries prevalence. Despite this limitation, our results showed that socioeconomic level influenced preference for sweetness, which in turn was associated with caries prevalence. CONCLUSION: The socioeconomic status influence the sweetness preference and this, in turn, is associated with the dental caries prevalence.

[Prevalence of dental caries in children from 0 to 6 years old attending nursery: the influence of socioeconomic factors]. / Prevalência de cárie dentária em crianças da faixa etária de 0 a 6 anos matriculadas em creches: importância de fatores socioeconômicos.

Oral health condition in samples of children from zero to six years old, examined in day nurseries for children from Bauru and S. Paulo County (Brazil) by the caries indicator in primary dentition-dmfs, is assessed. The first group did not receive oral health care where any as the second group received the standard oral care provided by the institution. Variables related to way of life and their relationship to the presence of caries were evaluated. Multiple regression analysis showed a statistically significant association of age and frequency of dental visits with the prevalence of dental caries (p < 0.05). The data also showed that 23.3% of the children from Bauru, and 9.3% of those from S. Paulo were free of caries, numbers that are very far from the 50% proposed by WHO for the year 2000. The overall prevalence of dental caries was greater for the Bauru group than for the S. Paulo group; however, statistical significance was only found in the 3-4 age-group (p < 0.05). Sex differences in the occurrence of dental caries were not statistically significant.