Abstract

ANGEL, P et al. Prevalence of caries, teeth loss and treatment needs in adult Mapuche-Huilliche population in Isla Huapi. Rev. Clin. Periodoncia Implantol. Rehabil. Oral [online]. 2010, vol.3, n.2, pp. 69-72. ISSN 0719-0107.  doi: 10.4067/S0719-01072010000200002.

Objectives: The aim of this cross- sectional study was to assess oral health status and quantify prevalence of dental caries, teeth loss and treatment needs in an ethnic group of Mapuche-Huilliche adult population in Isla Huapi. Method: A representative sample of 64 adult inhabitants of Isla Huapi was selected. 31 men and 33 women aged 25 to 82 years of age who had at least one Mapuche-Huilliche surname, after signing an informed consent, individuals were examined by a calibrated examiner during August 2009. Data were recorded and analyzed statistically using T Student and ANOVA tests. Results: The DMFT index average of the sample was 14.59. All individuals had caries experience. Untreated caries were found in a 71.43% of individuals retaining teeth, with an average of 1.25 each. 98.43% of the individuals had some degree of edentulism, 12.5% were edentulous. 100% of the population needed either restorative or prosthetic dental care. Conclusions: This population has a high degree of damage in their oral health, especially due to teeth loss, which could be explained by their limited access to preventive and restorative dental care. The extent of the damage and the importance of the social environment as a determiner in the generation of it, will mean addressing the problem and seeking solutions by developing and implementing government programs for the promotion and oral health care to the entire population.

Keywords : Prevalence; caries; edentulism; Mapuche ethnic group; adults.