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Memorias del Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud

On-line version ISSN 1812-9528

Abstract

CABALLERO-GARCIA, Cristina R et al. Oral health and dental health service use. Mem. Inst. Investig. Cienc. Salud [online]. 2017, vol.15, n.3, pp.57-63. ISSN 1812-9528.  https://doi.org/10.18004/mem.iics/1812-9528/2017.015(03)57-063.

In Paraguay, epidemiological data on the oral health situation and the use of dental care services by adult are limited, hence the urgent need to generate relevant information to design and establish public health programs in accordance with the needs of the population. The objective of this cross-sectional retrospective study was to determine the oral health situation and the pattern of utilization of the dental services of the patients treated in the Dental Operatory Chairs II and III of the Odontology program at the Catholic University-Campus of Itapúa. The sample consisted of 411 clinical records of patients treated between 2014 and 2017. The average age of patients was 28 years. The prevalence of caries was 94.6%. The index of decayed, missing and filled teeth was 13.2 (±6.9). The largest component was decayed teeth (7.0±4.5), followed by teeth lost (4.4±5.7). A high percentage (77%) of patients did not have health insurance at the time of consultation. The main reason for current consultation was aesthetics (42%) and 64% of participants only attends dentist when needed. The average index of decayed, missing and filled teeth (13.2) is classified as severe. The predominance of decayed and missing teeth components is indicative of limited access to the use of dental services and restorative treatments. It is necessary to establish strategies for health promotion and prevention of oral diseases as part of the programs from the first care level.

Keywords : oral health; DMF index; dental health services utilization..

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