Analysis and Evaluation of Dental Caries in a Mexican Population: A Descriptive Transversal Study

Alejandro Moreno-Barrera, Pedro Morales-Ruiz, David Ribas Pérez (), Javier Flores-Fraile and Antonio Castaño-Seiquer
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Alejandro Moreno-Barrera: Department of Surgery, University of Salamanca, 37008 Salamanca, Spain
Pedro Morales-Ruiz: Department of Surgery, University of Salamanca, 37008 Salamanca, Spain
David Ribas Pérez: Department of Stomatology, University of Seville, 41004 Seville, Spain
Javier Flores-Fraile: Department of Surgery, University of Salamanca, 37008 Salamanca, Spain
Antonio Castaño-Seiquer: Department of Stomatology, University of Seville, 41004 Seville, Spain

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 5, 1-11

Abstract: Oral diseases are an important public health problem owing to their high prevalence and strong impact on people, particularly in disadvantaged populations. There is a strong relationship between the socioeconomic situation and the prevalence and severity of these diseases. Mexico is among the countries with a higher frequency range in oral diseases, highlighting dental caries, which affect more than 90% of the Mexican population. Materials and method: A cross-sectional, descriptive, and observational study was carried out in 552 individuals who underwent a complete cariogenic clinical examination in different populations of the state of Yucatan. All individuals were evaluated after providing informed consent and with the consent of their legal guardians for those under legal age. We used the caries measurement methods described by the World Health Organization (WHO). Prevalence of caries, DMFT, and dft indexes were measured. Other aspects were also studied, such as oral habits and the use of public or private dental services. Results: The prevalence of caries in permanent dentition was 84%. Moreover, it was found to be statistically related to the following variables: place of residence, socioeconomic level, gender, and level of education ( p < 0.05). For primary teeth, the prevalence was 64% and there was no statistical relation with any of the variables studied ( p > 0.05). Regarding the other aspects studied, more than 50% of the sample used private dental services. Conclusions: There is a high need for dental treatment in the population studied. It is necessary to develop prevention and treatment strategies considering the particularities of each population, driving collaborative projects to promote better oral health conditions in disadvantaged populations.

Keywords: caries prevalence; epidemiology; dental public health (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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