Tooth Loss and Caries Experience of Elderly Chileans in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Five Regions of Chile

Víctor Beltrán (), Marco Flores, Cristina Sanzana, Fernanda Muñoz-Sepúlveda, Eloy Alvarado, Bernardo Venegas, Juan Carlos Molina, Sandra Rueda-Velásquez and Alfredo von Marttens
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Víctor Beltrán: Clinical Investigation and Dental Innovation Center (CIDIC), Dental School and Center for Translational Medicine (CEMT-BIOREN), Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile
Marco Flores: Clinical Investigation and Dental Innovation Center (CIDIC), Dental School and Center for Translational Medicine (CEMT-BIOREN), Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile
Cristina Sanzana: Postgraduate Program in Oral Rehabilitation, Interuniversity Center for Healthy Aging, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile
Fernanda Muñoz-Sepúlveda: Clinical Investigation and Dental Innovation Center (CIDIC), Dental School and Center for Translational Medicine (CEMT-BIOREN), Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile
Eloy Alvarado: Department of Industrial Engineering, Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María, Santiago 7630000, Chile
Bernardo Venegas: Carlos Van Buren Hospital of Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2340000, Chile
Juan Carlos Molina: Clínica MEDS, Santiago 8150513, Chile
Sandra Rueda-Velásquez: Department of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Dentistry, Universidad Santo Tomás, Bucaramanga 680001, Colombia
Alfredo von Marttens: Department of Prosthesis, Faculty of Dentistry, Interuniversity Center for Healthy Aging, University of Chile, Santiago 8380000, Chile

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 4, 1-11

Abstract: Risk factors associated with tooth loss have been studied; however, the current status of the epidemiological profiles and the impact of the pandemic on the oral health of the elderly is still unknown. This study aims to determine the experience of caries and tooth loss among elderly Chilean citizens in five regions and to identify the risk factors associated with tooth loss. The sample includes 135 participants over 60 years old assessed during COVID-19 lockdown. Sociodemographic variables such as education and RSH (Social Registry of Households) were obtained through a teledentistry platform called TEGO. The history of chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, depression and dental caries reported by DMFT index scores were incorporated. The statistical analysis included Adjusted Odds Ratios (ORs) to assess risk factors associated with the lack of functional dentition. Multivariate hypothesis testing was used to compare the mean equality of DMFT and its components between regions ( p -value < 0.05). Individuals with RSH ≤ 40% were at higher risk of having no functional dentition with OR 4.56 (95% CI: 1.71, 12.17). The only mean difference between regions was the filled tooth component. Tooth loss was associated with multidimensional lower income, where the elderly belonging to the 40% most vulnerable population had a higher prevalence of non-functional dentition. This study highlights the importance of implementing a National Oral Health Policy that focuses on oral health promotion and minimally invasive dentistry for the most vulnerable population.

Keywords: tooth loss; caries experience; edentulism; elderly (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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