Prevalencia de Caries y Pérdida de Dientes en Población de 65 a 74 Años de Santiago, Chile

AbstractObjectivesTo measure prevalence of caries and tooth loss among low and middle-low socio-economic level elderly from Santiago, Chile.MethodsProportionate stratified probabilistic sampling techniques; sample of 109 people (74 women and 35 men) aged 65 to 74. Data gathered by means of a face-to-face questionnaire. Informed consent was obtained; individuals were examined by a calibrated dentist. The study was carried out from March to December 2008. Data analysis considered chi-square and ANOVA.ResultsDMFT was 24.9 (CI: 23.83; 25.96). All the individuals had caries experience; 45.9% had active caries lesions. The mean of non-treated active caries lesions was 0.9 per individual. Concerning prosthesis, 38.5% of individuals were found to use removable prosthesis and 15 people (13.76%) were edentulous.ConclusionsThe size of the gap and the importance of social environment on damaging oral health should lead to face this problem from a wider perspective of social determinants of health when building public policies